This report shares the findings of a survey of Oregon small businesses, focusing on their experiences with credit and their reactions to one current proposal to support small business and economic growth: the creation of a state bank. This report contributes to the discussion of such a proposal by sharing the perspectives of Oregon’s MainContinue reading “Direct from Main Street: Oregon Small Business Views on Credit and Lending”
Category Archives: Publications
Searching for Work that Pays: 2010 Job Gap Study
The 2010 Job Gap Study looks at the availability of living wage jobs in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. This report provides calculations of: A living wage for all counties in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington; The percent of job openings that pay a living wage in each of these states; and TheContinue reading “Searching for Work that Pays: 2010 Job Gap Study”
Facing Race: 2010 Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity (Washington)
This report card assesses the racial impacts of decisions made in the 2010 Washington legislative session, looking at a range of policy areas, from economic justice to health to civil rights and more. A collaborative effort of many racial justice organizations, the report collectively and individually grades Washington’s legislators on their votes that either promotedContinue reading “Facing Race: 2010 Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity (Washington)”
Opening the Door
The Importance of Language and Literacy Access under Health Reform The primary goal of health care reform is to reduce uninsured rates and thereby ensure access to quality health care for the approximately 46.3 million currently uninsured. This population consists disproportionately of people of color, immigrants and low-income people.
Rules of the Road
Regulating Insurance Companies Is a Critical Component of Health Reform Much remains to be decided about the rules of health reform. Accordingly, elected officials and policymakers on both the state and federal level should promote quality coverage and ensure the strongest possible oversight of the health insurance industry, thereby protecting the health and financial wellbeingContinue reading “Rules of the Road”
Native Health Underfunded & Promises Unfulflled
The United States government has an obligation based on treaty and statute to meet the health care needs of Native people. The Indian Health Service (IHS), a federal agency, provides health care to many Native people but also has been severely and chronically underfunded. To illuminate the problem of IHS underfunding, this report shares the perspectives of directors, administrators and physicians at health care organizations within the IHS system. These health care facilities deliver crucial services to Native people but often cannot provide needed comprehensive services because of the severe shortfall in resources.
Facing Race: a Report Card on Racial Justice
Washingtonians concerned with social justice are keeping a watchful eye on their elected officials. Washington CAN! and the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations partnered to release Facing Race: 2009 Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity, the first ever report card to collectively and individually grade Washington’s state legislators and governor on their votes that eitherContinue reading “Facing Race: a Report Card on Racial Justice”
2009 Job Gap: Searching for Work that Pays
The Job Gap study calculates a basic family budget for different family structures in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado. Based on this “living wage” the study then estimates the number and proportion of job openings that provide a sufficient wage to support and individual or a family’s basic needs without relying on public assistance.
An American Debt Unpaid: Stories of Native Health
An American Debt Unpaid: Stories of Native Health shares the experiences of Native people struggling to get the health care they need. The contributors provide personal accounts of their efforts to be treated with respect by practitioners, as well as their fight to improve the health and well being of their communities.
The Health Equity Challenge: People of Color are Living Sicker and Dying Younger in California
Across California and nationwide, health care reform has become a key priority. Health disparities harm all members of a community, and securing a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for everyone in America requires attention to racial disparities in health care. This report discusses some of the key health disparities in California and the UnitedContinue reading “The Health Equity Challenge: People of Color are Living Sicker and Dying Younger in California”