Our primary focus is on ensuring children are fully protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. Last year, Oregon recorded more than 560 cases of whooping cough -- illnesses that could have been prevented.

Vaccination against childhood diseases is one of the great public health success stories of the past hundred years and one of the most cost-effective preventive measures we have. It takes a combined effort to make sure kids have all their shots and don't miss school. DHS provides technical help, but it's the hard work and dedication of health departments, schools and facilities that really make this process work.

Children see things very well sometimes -- and idealists even better.

While it is critical to address how children in detention are being treated, it is also crucially important to focus on reducing the vulnerabilities and circumstances that push children to the edge and into lifestyles which often result in law-breaking and criminality.

Most practices would see children, but they were adult-oriented. They did not specialize or focus on pediatrics, whereas in other larger communities, there are plenty of pediatric therapy providers.

He's a good boardman, an excellent one in fact. His focus has always been on children.