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COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT   September
2006  Prepared by  Holly Whittleton, Head
Start DirectorJack DeWaard, Resource Development
Specialist
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SERVICE AREA
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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 agencys Board of Directors,
Policy Council, parents of program
participants, as well as local, certified
childcare providers Face-to-face and
telephone interviews with the agencys Executive
Management Team, Program Specialists,
County Directors and county management teams, as
well as representatives from local
service agencies and community partners.
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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.
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DATA SNAPSHOT DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE
Key Facts and Statistics Oregons
population grew by 6.1 percent between 2000 and
2005. Central Oregons 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. Oregons 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
MFWs SFWs Children Ages 0-5 of MFWs Children Ages 0-5 of SFWs
35,570 67,792 3,409 18,885
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KEY OBSERVATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS
OCDC
There is an opportunity for the agency to
continue building relationshipsto 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
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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 (n1,681 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.
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KEY OBSERVATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS
Education
There is a needto ensure effective
transitions processesand 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.
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KEY OBSERVATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS
Mental Health and Disabilities
There is a need toensure the availability of
services during the summer. There is a needto
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 Oregons
counties have been designated as Mental Health
Professional Shortage Areas due to either
geographic isolation or the concentration of
low-income residents.
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KEY OBSERVATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS
Health and Nutrition
There is a need for local pediatric dental
services.
Evidenced by Eight of OCDCs 10 services
areas have been designated as Health
Professional Shortage Areas in light of
each areas 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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Donalda Dodson, Executive Director
971.224.1004 Holly Whittleton, Head Start
Director 971.224.1007 Jack DeWaard, Resource
Development Specialist 971.224.1043 _____________
________________________________________ Electr
onic copies and maps can be downloaded
at http//www.ocdc.net/CA.htm