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This Rhode Island Child Care Policy Research Partnership (RI CCPRP) between the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (RI DHS), other agencies of the Rhode Island’s Children’s Cabinet, researchers from the Wellesley College Child Care Research Partnership, and community partners was created to build a state-wide, interagency capacity to effectively propose, conduct and communicate policy-relevant analyses related to child care and early education. The RI CCPRP is convened as a sub-committee of the Advisory Committee on Child Care and Development (ACCCD) at RI DHS and is facilitated by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, a contractual partner. Project Significance
This RI CCPRP will help RI DHS to strengthen its capacity to extract, interpret and communicate data related to child and youth care, early education, and child care assistance. The partnership uses state data to assess if the innovative policies and investments Rhode Island has implemented on a state level truly support family independence and child success and advance positive outcomes for children and families. Project Goals
- Establish and support an internal unit equipped with the personnel, tools and expertise to retrieve, analyze and communicate data in response to critical questions about access, quality and affordability of child care and early education in Rhode Island.
- Study how available data can be linked to outcomes that indicate success in early literacy and school readiness, strong families, and positive youth development.
- Study what is happening to children and families in Rhode Island over time to assess the effectiveness of the strategies implemented to advance the goals of the Starting Right Initiative.
Year One Research Questions
1. What were the impacts of Rhode Island’s extensive child care reforms on child care choices made by families receiving subsidies?
2. How do household characteristics affect the child care choices of families with child care subsidies?
3. What impact do community characteristics, particularly the availability of formal care, have on child care choices?
4. Do households with more than one child in subsidized care behave differently than households with only one child receiving subsidized care? Year Two Research Questions
1. Continue to study year one questions with data extending through June 2003.
2. What are the longer term effects of the January 2002 rate increases?
3. What are the early impacts of the January 2004 rate increases and co-payment methodology changes?
4. What are the early impacts of the Child Care Assistance Program system redesign?
5. What are the take-up rates of Child Care Assistance Program eligible families? What are the characteristics of eligible children who do not use their voucher?
6. What is the duration of subsidy use by income-eligible and Family Independence Program families? Partnership and Funding
The Rhode Island Child Care Policy Research Partnership is made possible by a three-year grant to the Rhode Island Department of Human Services from the Administration for Children and Families. Awarded in 2002, this grant is bringing together state agency personnel, university researchers, child care providers, parents, advocates and legislators to address key needs for child care information.
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