The 2022 Statewide Household Survey Report has been released. The Preschool Development Grant (PDG) Research Team at Portland State University’s Center for the Improvement of Child and Family Services (PSU) and OSLC Developments, Inc. (ODI) has published the report, which presents the results of the third statewide survey administered to parents and other caregivers of children aged 0 to 5. The survey was conducted from December 2022 through January 2023. The findings provide important information about the needs for child care and the challenges to finding care currently faced by Oregon families.
The results of the 2022 survey echo those of the 2019 and 2020 surveys in finding that both the cost and availability of child care continue to be challenges for most Oregon families. One of the most striking findings is that 41% of families report challenges finding child care have had an negative impact on their employment. The report also finds an increase in the number of families reporting that their child has been asked to leave an early learning program.
Researchers conducted outreach to over 400 agencies and organizations to reach families from across the state. Specific focus was given to outreach to agencies serving historically underrepresented communities and those in more isolated rural regions of the state. Families across Oregon’s 36 counties were invited to participate in the survey. Nearly 4000 parents, guardians and primary caregivers of young children provided feedback about their early education and child care needs.
Specifically, the 2022 survey focused on information about:
- Families’ usage of child care, including type, frequency, and hours of care;
- Families’ satisfaction and challenges with finding child care for their child, as well as whether the services obtained were responsive to the family’s cultural background and/or home language;
- Whether children with an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), developmental disabilities, or chronic medical needs were able to access services they needed;
- Rates of suspension and expulsions from early childhood care experienced by families and reasons for these experiences.
The latest results show an important representative snapshot that will allow the new Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) to determine how the landscape of early care and education (ECE) services and supports has remained the same and what trends have changed in recent years.
The recommendations presented in the report will be used to strengthen the reach and impact of Oregon’s birth-five early learning and support system moving forward after the COVID-19 pandemic. This research was made possible by a Preschool Development Grant which expired last year. Future family surveys that measure the needs of Oregon families may not be possible without additional funding.
To read the full report and see survey data, visit the DELC website Oregon.gov/DELC and search under 2022 Household Survey.
The DELC research staff and the PDG Research Team would like to thank all those who participated in the survey for sharing their needs, experiences, and perspectives.