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Teen Pregnancy and Parenting in Rhode Island
December 4, 2006 - In 2005, there were 1,117 babies born to mothers younger than age 20 in Rhode Island. Almost one in ten (9%) of all babies born in Rhode Island in 2005 were born to teen mothers according to the Issue Brief, Teen Pregnancy and Parenting in Rhode Island. The Issue Brief also highlights what works to improve outcomes for children of teen parents, teen pregnancy prevention and intervention strategies, and offers a set of evidence-based recommendations..

In 2006, Rhode Island had an overall high school graduation rate of 85%
November 30, 2006 -The Issue Brief, Improving High School Graduation Rates in Rhode Island, was released at a policy roundtable. The Issue Brief highlights the critical importance of a high school diploma for individual and community success. Graduation rates and dropout rates for each of Rhode Island's school districts, charter schools and state operated schools are reported in the brief. Download the press release.

The statewide graduation rate in 2006 was 85%, meaning that 15% of Rhode Island students who should have graduated in 2006 dropped out between 9th and 12th grade. The Issue Brief also highlights critical dropout prevention strategies and offers a set of evidence-based recommendations. Photos from the event are available online.

West Warwick Data In Your Backyard Presentation
November 28, 2006 - Rhode Island KIDS COUNT presents West Warwick Data In Your Backyard: Findings from the 2006 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook at the West Warwick Senior Center. Download the press release or the article in the Providence Journal for more information.

Over Half of Low-Income Children Live With a Parent Who Works Regularly
November 2006 - Over Half of Low-Income Children Live With a Parent Who Works Regularly, the third Data Snapshot in the KIDS COUNT series, highlights the latest data on the large number of children living in low-income working families in the United States. The data in this Snapshot and more than 100 other indicators of child well-being can be found in the KIDS COUNT State-Level Data Online System.

Rhode Island is Named the Safest State for Children
October 2006 - According to the results of an exclusive survey to be released in the November 2006 Child Magazine, Rhode Island is the safest state for children. Rhode Island has been among the first in the nation to enact an array of comprehensive laws to protect children. According to Elizabeth Burke Bryant, who is quoted in the article, Rhode Island's size as a state contributes to the ease at which communities, policymakers and doctors can communicate.

RIte Care Outreach Materials are Available Online
October 27, 2006 - The documents from the training in September about the new RIte Care rules and regulations are available online; including the RIte Care outreach flyers in English and in Spanish.

World Renowned Expert to Discusses the Developmental Origins of Aggression, from Infancy to Adolescence
October 11, 2006 - Richard E. Tremblay, Ph.D., F.R.S.C., Professor of Psychiatry/Psychology/Pediatrics and Director of the Research Unit on Children's Psychosocial Maladjustment at the University of Montreal, discussed the development and prevention of antisocial and violent behavior on October 11, 2006 at Brown University. Download the press release and an invitation for additional information.

Newport Data In Your Backyard Presentation
October 3, 2006 - Rhode Island KIDS COUNT presents Newport Data In Your Backyard: Findings from the 2006 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook at the Newport Public Library. Download the press release for more information.

WRNI Airs Series on Children's Health in RI
September 2006 - The Children's Health in Rhode Island Series contains segments on asthma, mental health, oral health, and obesity. The oral health segment highlights the work of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT in that area.

Teen Motherhood at Record Low in United States 
September 8, 2006 -  Teen Motherhood at Record Low in United States, the second Data Snapshot in the KIDS COUNT series, highlights statistics on teen motherhood across U.S. states. The data in this Snapshot and more than 100 other indicators of child well-being can be found in the KIDS COUNT State-Level Data Online System.

Release of New Health Insurance Coverage and Poverty Data
August 29, 2006 - According to the latest Census Bureau Data, 19.5% of Rhode Island children under age 18 live in poverty.  The percentage of Rhode Island children without health insurance has increased from 5.8% to 6.6%, according to the most recent three-year averages of the Current Population Survey. Access to health care helps to improve outcomes for poor children. Rhode Island now ranks 10th in the country for the rate of children without health insurance. Download the Press Release. Learn more about poverty in Rhode Island by downloading the Issue Brief on Poverty and its companion document that were released in January 2006.

Fast Facts for Providence and RI from the 2005 American Community Survey
August 2006 - These tables prepared by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT detail key demographic and social data recently released from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, American Community Survey (ACS). The tables juxtapose Rhode Island and Providence data. This is the first year that data for Providence have been available from the ACS. Economic and Housing data will be released soon.

Back-to-School 2006 is here!
August 9, 2006 - The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation kicked off the seventh annual Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School Campaign - a nationwide effort encouraging parents to enroll their eligible, uninsured children in Medicaid or State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) as an important part of preparing for the new school year.

At events nationwide, the Foundation released research showing that the percentage of uninsured kids in America has decreased by 20% since the SCHIP was approved by Congress in '97, despite an increase in the total number of uninsured Americans. Read the Full Report and the Rhode Island Fact Sheet, and visit the Press Room to read the news on the Back-to-School launch.

Covering Kids & Families RI Newsletter
August 2006 - The ninth edition of the Covering Kids & Families newsletter features articles about how Medicaid supports Rhode Island’s health care, schools, cities and towns, as well as provide vital services to vulnerable and low income populations.

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT reports on the Progress of Selected Legislation and Appropriations Affecting Children
July 2006 - The 2006 Legislative Wrap-Up reports on the progress of selected laws and budget appropriations affecting children in the areas of economic well-being, health, early childhood, education and safety and heard by the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2006 legislative session.

Fiscal Year 2007 Rhode Island Budget Enacted into Law
June 30, 2006 - The governor signed the new state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The budget bill was passed by the House of Representatives on a 69 to 2 vote, and was passed in concurrence by the Senate on a 35 to 1 vote.

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Photo Gallery
July 2006 - View Rhode Island KIDS COUNT's new photo gallery, which includes pictures from the organization's various events, including the annual Factbook release breakfast.

Release of Special Report: The Dental Safety Net in Rhode Island 
June 29, 2006 - The report details the findings of a Rhode Island KIDS COUNT survey of the service capacity, staffing, financing, and future needs of dental safety net providers in Rhode Island.

* View pictures from the release.

2006 KIDS COUNT Data Book and Online Database Now Available!
June 27, 2006 - The 17th annual KIDS COUNT Data Book promotes discussion on ways to secure better futures for all kids and reports on the well-being of America’s children in the nation as whole as well as in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The entire report is available online with enhanced interactive features. The 2006 Data Book focuses on "Family, Friend, and Neighbor Care: Strengthening a Critical Resource to Help Young Children Succeed". Read Rhode Island KIDS COUNT's press release.

RI House of Representatives passes state budget
June 19, 2006 - The House of Representatives approved the state budget for the fiscal year 2007. The $6.6-billion budget restores several funds to human services that were proposed cut by the governor and puts before voters in November a $50 million bond question to help fund affordable housing around the state. The 41-article budget bill (2006 - H7120Aaa) now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Release of the Issue Brief, Preventing Childhood Obesity Issue Brief
May 24, 2006 - 1 in 5 children entering kindergarten were obese according to the Preventing Childhood Obesity in Rhode Island Issue Brief . Read the press release for more information.

Release of Building Better Lives for Youth Leaving Foster Care
May 16, 2006 - In recognition of National Foster Care Month, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT released an Issue Brief entitled Building Better Lives for Youth in Foster Care, at a policy forum with youth in foster care, service providers, state agencies, advocates, and political and community leaders.

School Readiness: Closing Racial and Ethnic Gaps, Policymakers and Practitioners Conference Materials Available Online
May 4, 2006 - The materials from the conference at the Brown University Faculty Club entitled School Readiness: Closing Racial and Ethnic Gaps are available online.

* View pictures from the conference.

Providence Data In Your Backyard
May 2, 2006 - Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and the Providence Children’s Museum hosted a policy forum on the well-being of children in Providence as part of the Data in Your Backyard Series. Data from the 2006 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook was presented to an audience of city officials and community leaders that work with children and youth in the city.

Speaker from National Immigration Law Center highlights the benefits of providing health insurance coverage for undocumented children
May 1, 2006 - Tanya Broder, JD, from the National Immigration Law Center speaks about the importance of continuing to provide health insurance coverage for undocumented children and shares lessons from other states at the Covering Kids & Families Rhode Island Leadership Council meeting as part of Cover the Uninsured Week. For additional information, download the press release.

2006 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook Release
April 3, 2006 - Rhode Island KIDS COUNT released the 2006 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook at its annual breakfast. For more information, download the articles in the Providence Journal and the press release 

*View pictures from the event.

Updated Online Report Tracks U.S. Birth Information Across States and 50 Largest Cities
March 29, 2006 - The online report, The Right Start for America’s Newborns: City and State Trends, has been updated to include 2003 data, adding to the birth information the report has tracked yearly since 1990. Read Providence's profile.

RI Oral Health Access Project Releases Major Report
Monday, February 13, 2006 - Rhode Island KIDS COUNT released the report entitled Closing the Gap: Improving Access to Dental Care in Rhode Island, in collaboration with The Rhode Island Foundation and the Rhode Island Department of Human Services at the Rhode Island State House. The report highlights progress made in dental care access during the Rhode Island Oral Health Access Project and the work that remains to be done to increase access to dental care for children, the elderly, and other Rhode Islanders who lack access to dental services.

* View pictures from the Release.

Release of Child Poverty in Rhode Island
January 10, 2006 - Rhode Island KIDS COUNT released the Issue Brief, Child Poverty in Rhode Island: A Statistical Profile, at a policy roundtable at the Rhode Island Foundation. The Issue Brief provides updated data on children living in poverty in Rhode Island. The Issue Brief also highlights the importance of parental education and family structure in the well being of children. For additional information download the companion document or the press release.

National Report Released Outlining Essential Policies for Communities, Children and Families to Thrive
January 10, 2006 - Policy Matters, a 50 state report, highlights 20 policies in the areas of employment, income and asset growth, health, education and healthy family relationships that are most important to the well-being of families and the health of communities. Read the Rhode Island State Policy Strenghts and Opportunies Fact Sheet or the RI State Brief.