Medford, Ore — Southern Oregon may be one of the most difficult places in the state to raise a child. That’s according to a new study released Wednesday by “Children First For Oregon”.
Statistically speaking, children in Douglas County have the least amount of opportunity in the state and other southern counties like Klamath, Coos, Josephine and Jackson counties aren’t far behind.
“Working harder and playing by the rules no longer affords opportunities to a family,” said Research Director T.J. Sheehy.
A study released by child advocacy group “Children First For Oregon” shows Southern Oregon is lacking when it comes to giving opportunities to children.
“Southern Oregon has seen, basically, a change in the nature of the economy,” said Sheehy.
The study uses an opportunity index that rates counties on a scale of 1 to 1000, factoring in twelve indicators that includes birth weight, college degrees and numbers of preschools.
“We take 12 indicators put them together and we have one score of opportunity,” said Sheehy.
Washington and Multnomah counties top the list with an index near 800 for white families. Jackson County comes in 11th, with an index near 600. Douglas County is last according to the study but has better opportunities for minority children than Multnomah County.
“Opportunity ranges all over the state but what is universally true in Oregon is children of color have lower levels of opportunity than their white peers in the same area,” said Sheehy.
Overall, Sheehy says the data shows a trend that isn’t good for Southern Oregon children.
A shift from the timber industry that use to award hard work and playing by the rules with a middle income job, and those opportunities no longer exist,” said Sheehy.
Sheehy says it’s up to voters to change that trend.
“Kids can’t vote, we need to make sure that all of us as voters take kids to heart, said Sheehy.
This is the 18th year ‘Children First For Oregon’ has conducted the study and the first year where opportunities for minorities was included as a separate statistic.
© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.