Help At-Risk and Homeless Children in Portland

Greetings, 

As we enter the second quarter of 2015, we are gathering backpacks and school supplies to replenish our inventory and ensure the girls and boys in our community have all the tools they need to finish out the school year. The day-to-day struggles of children and families continue, but in numbers there is strength, and we are truly grateful for your belief in the work we do.

Children First of Oregon released its 2015 report highlighting the well-being of kids including stats on child abuse and neglect, poverty, education and health & safety.  The report is grim, but we can help to make things better, each in our own way.

Some key findings from the report include: 

• Child abuse and neglect in Oregon has declined by only 2% since 2003 – despite falling by 25% nationwide.
• A child in Oregon has a 1 in 5 chance of being poor – even if one of her parents works.
• The child poverty rate has increased 10% since the Great Recession ended – and 25% since it began.
• Oregon Head Start is the state’s only public pre- Kindergarten program with just 28 programs in the state and room for only 12,360 kids – leaving 65% of eligible children without access.

Futhermore, according to the Oregon Department of Education, Oregon had 72 percent on-time graduation rate for the class of 2014, and is one of the lowest graduation rates in the country. On a positive note, Portland Public Schools which is the largest school district in all of Oregon, improved its graduation rate by 3.5 percentage points, from 66.9 percent for 2012-2013 to 70.4 percent for 2013-2014.  

This is the reality many children and families living in our community face each day. But with your continued support, we are able to say, "we care, we believe in you, you can succeed." 

With gratitude, 

The Global Backpack Project Team