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SERVICE AREA

COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT Se ptember 2006 Prepared by: Holly Whittleton, Head Start Director Jack DeWaard, Resource Development Specialist. SERVICE AREA. METHODOLOGY. Steps: * Inventory of secondary data sources, including requests for information from

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SERVICE AREA

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  1. COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTSeptember 2006Prepared by: Holly Whittleton, Head Start DirectorJack DeWaard, Resource Development Specialist

  2. SERVICE AREA

  3. METHODOLOGY Steps: * Inventory of secondary data sources, including requests for information from service providers and community partners. * Mail and email surveys of agricultural employers, farm labor contractors, service agencies and community partners. * Focus groups with the agency’s Board of Directors, Policy Council, parents of program participants, as well as local, certified childcare providers * Face-to-face and telephone interviews with the agency’s Executive Management Team, Program Specialists, County Directors and county management teams, as well as representatives from local service agencies and community partners.

  4. DATA SNAPSHOT: ECONOMIC PROFILE Key Agricultural Facts and Statistics: * The estimated number of migrant farmworkers declined by 7.3 percent between 2002 and 2005, roughly the same period of time during which (i) berry growers have seen reductions in acreage and stiff international competition, (ii) tree fruit acreage and prices have declined annually, and (iii) potato growers have worked to reduce acreage in an effort to increase prices and sales. * The estimated number of seasonal farmworkers increased by 10.2 percent between 2002 and 2005, roughly the same period of time during which nursery and greenhouse sales increased by 35 percent and 4 percent, respectively. * While other commodities that tend to employ migrant farmworkers have either recovered (e.g., cherries) or are growing in popularity (e.g., wine grapes), it remains that nurseries and greenhouses continue to be the trendsetters in Oregon agriculture. Moreover, given the current immigration debate and tighter border controls, many families are electing to establish roots in the local areas and are looking for more stable employment.

  5. DATA SNAPSHOT: DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE Key Facts and Statistics : * Oregon’s population grew by 6.1 percent between 2000 and 2005. * Central Oregon’s Deschutes and Crook Counties grew the fastest. ** Washington County is the 3rd fasted growing county in Oregon. ** Jefferson County is the 5th fasted growing county in Oregon. * Oregon’s rate of net-migration is double the rate of natural population increase. * Oregon has been designated as a “New Hispanic State” given: ** 200 percent growth in the Hispanic population between 1980 and 2000. ** A 200,000 person increase over the same time period. * Hispanics tend to be younger than the general population. * A few estimates of various populations in Oregon in 2005

  6. KEY OBSERVATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS OCDC “There is an opportunity for the agency to continue building relationships…to raise awareness about the Migrant Seasonal Head Start program.” Evidenced by: * Many productive partnerships exist to expand and build off of. * Limited name recognition of the agency and the Migrant Seasonal Head Start program. * Difficulty distinguishing between the Migrant Seasonal Head Start program and Region X Head Start. * Misconceptions about the Migrant Seasonal Head Start program ** e.g., for Hispanics only; not for all families employed in agriculture

  7. KEY OBSERVATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS Education “The need for Migrant Seasonal Head Start services in Oregon currently exceeds capacity.” Evidenced by: * OCDC is the only provider of Migrant Seasonal Head Start services in Oregon and in those areas of California, Idaho, and Washington along the Oregon border. * Forty-nine percent (49%) of all eligible migrant children are currently being served in Oregon (n=1,681 children of an estimated 3,409 eligible children). * While this need will continue to ebb and flow each year, we know that: ** Roughly 98 percent of MSHS program participants are of Hispanic origin. ** Oregon has recently been designated as a “New Hispanic State.” ** Hispanics tend to be younger than the general population.

  8. KEY OBSERVATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS Education “There is a need…[to] ensure effective transitions processes…[and] to build the capacity of education providers to more effectively respond to the needs of migrant families.” Evidenced by: * Productive partnerships with many local school districts and education providers. * Opportunities to broaden the number of such partners in local areas. * A need among several school districts for more Spanish speaking liaisons and staff and, in general, the expertise of OCDC. * A chance to make a long term impact by ensuring that the transitions process is not only collaborative, but visionary and anticipatory.

  9. KEY OBSERVATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS Mental Health and Disabilities “There is a need to…ensure the availability of services during the summer.” “There is a need…to recruit bilingual, bicultural mental health providers.” Evidenced by: * Productive partnerships with many local providers are in place to build off of. * A recent gap analysis revealed a need for more bilingual early childhood consultants. * All but nine of Oregon’s counties have been designated as “Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas” due to either geographic isolation or the concentration of low-income residents.

  10. KEY OBSERVATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS Health and Nutrition “There is a need for local pediatric dental services.” Evidenced by: * Eight of OCDC’s 10 services areas have been designated as “Health Professional Shortage Areas” in light of each area’s geographic isolation, the concentration of low-income residents, or the population of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. * There are only 2 pediatric dentists in Oregon east of the Cascade Mountains. * Families in eastern Oregon are being referred to Boise, ID, and Portland, OR. * That families move every 2 or 3 months means that they often are not in one area long enough to move to the top of providers’ waiting lists.

  11. KEY OBSERVATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS Family Services “There is a need to ensure the resources and personnel necessary to continue to accommodate children and families in their primary language.” Evidenced by: * Calls from the community for OCDC to lead such efforts. * We know that this need will continue to grow: ** Roughly 98 percent of program participants are of Hispanic origin. ** Oregon has recently been named as a “New Hispanic State.” ** Hispanics tend to be younger than the general population. ** Hispanics are overly represented in many statistics (e.g., shelter counts).

  12. KEY OBSERVATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS Childcare There is currently a childcare shortage in Oregon, with the number of Spanish speaking providers “less than adequate” in many counties. Evidenced by: * Statewide, Oregon is 8 slots short of the state benchmark of 25 childcare slots per 100 children. * Eleven of the 12 counties in which OCDC serves are currently experiencing a childcare shortage. Wasco County is the exception. * Local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies are experiencing difficulties recruiting Spanish speaking providers, encouraging greater participation among providers in trainings, and building the overall professionalism of local providers.

  13. KEY OBSERVATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS Transportation and Housing Especially for those in rural areas, there are limited options for affordable housing and transportation. Evidenced by: * Few options for farmworker housing in local areas. * Many farm labor camps cater to single men. * Lack of documentation keeps many families on the fringes, unable to qualify for farmworker housing. * Transportation providers have experienced funding cuts and, consequently, have had to trim routes in some areas.

  14. TALKING POINTS Estimating Head Start and Migrant Seasonal Head Start Eligible Children Issues: * What is the relationship between the estimated number of Head Start eligible 3 and 4 year olds and the estimated number of Migrant Head Start eligible seasonal children between 3 and 4 years of age? For Starters: * Methods of estimation differ. ** Estimating Head Start eligible 3 and 4 years olds considers ***(i) population counts, (ii) poverty rate ** Estimating MSHS eligible seasonal children between 3 and 4 considers ***(i) previous msfw counts from 2002, (ii) crop data So: * While both estimates are related and overlap, they are not directly comparable. ** Refer to the Community Assessment Methodology for extended discussion.

  15. Donalda Dodson, Executive Director : 971.224.1004 Holly Whittleton, Head Start Director: 971.224.1007 Jack DeWaard, Resource Development Specialist: 971.224.1043 _____________________________________________________ Electronic copies and maps can be downloaded at: http://www.ocdc.net/CA.htm

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