May is recognized as National Foster Care Month
May 8, 2008 - The U.S. Children's Bureau has released national statistics on adoption and foster care. An estimated 510,000, children were in foster care at the end of FY 2006. The average age of all children in out-of-home care was 10 years old, with 52% of all children being male. Caucasion children represented 40 percent of the population, with African-American children and Hispanic children at 32 and 19 percent.

Read A Foster Child Comes of Age. It is a Washington Post profile of a young woman who is aging out of the system at 21 after spending 15 years in Virginia’s foster care system. For more information on National Foster Care Month, visit www.fostercaremonth.org.

New! Child Welfare Factbok Indicators' Factsheet 
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT released its annual publication on the well-being of children and families in RI, the 2008 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook. The Factbook reports on 62 indicators of child well-being across five subjects: Family and Community, Economic Well-Being, Health, Safety, and Education. Read the Fact Sheet on the Child Welfare Indicators.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
On April 1, President George Bush proclaimed April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month and encouraged "all citizens to help protect our children from abuse and neglect and to take an active role in creating safe communities." The President’s proclamation marks the 25th anniversary of the first designation of a month dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. President Ronald Reagan issued the first proclamation in 1983.

In conjunction with the month, the U.S. Children’s Bureau has updated their Community Resource packet for 2008, and more information of proven practices and public awareness campaigns is available online.

Report Examines Infant Maltreatment
In conjunction with child abuse prevention month, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) , working jointly Administration for Children & Families, released an analysis last week of the rate of nonfatal maltreatment of infants. The report, published in the April 4th edition of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, finds that 91,278 infants less than one year old (a rate of 23.2 per 1,000) experienced nonfatal maltreatment. Nearly 30,000 of these victims were less than a week old at the time of occurrence. Other key findings indicate that nearly two-thirds of all victims under the age of one suffered maltreatment. This report reaffirms CDC’s acknowledgment that "child maltreatment is a serious public health problem."

Child Maltreatment Data Released
The Children’s Bureau released the latest national data of child maltreatment across the country. Child Maltreatment 2006 provides national, and state-by-state, reviews of reports of child maltreatment, children that were confirmed as being victims of abuse, child fatalities, perpetrators, and services provided to children. This latest report collects the information submitted to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System for fiscal year 2006. ...[more]

Testimony on Proposed Regulations on Services to Youth Ages 18-21
On January 8, 2008 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT provided testimony at the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families public hearing on the proposed rules and regulations on the services to youth ages 18 to 21. The organization also released a fact sheet that describes the services available to youth who turn 18 while in the foster care system.

Available Services to RI Youth Ages 18 – 21 Aging Out of Foster Care
This fact sheet prepared by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT provides a comprehensive summary of services from case management and health care to education, employment and housing services, for those youth ages 18-21 who were in the foster care system on their 18th birthday.

Clinton Introduces Legislation to Help Foster Youth, Promote Adoptions
Shortly before Congress left for the Thanksgiving break, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) introduced two bills on child welfare. The Focusing Investments and Resources for a Safe Transition Act, or FIRST Act (S. 2341), would create a grant program to states establishing Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) for foster youth. The proposal would create savings accounts for foster youth in which their savings would be matched two to one. The second bill was the Adoption Improvement Act of 2007 (S. 2395), which would authorization $50 million to fund at least 10 pilot projects that attempt to strengthen adoptions through increased parent recruitment, greater adoption information, increased staff training, and greater community involvement in addressing the challenges of increasing adoptions. The bill also calls for HHS to fund research as part of the pilot projects to determine the successes and challenges in increasing the numbers of adoptions

National Foster Care Adoption Attitudes Survey
In celebration of National Adoption Month a national survey released this month reveals that 48 million Americans have considered adoption from foster care yet a majority of Americans hold misperceptions about the foster care adoption process and the children who are eligible for adoption. The survey finds that almost two-thirds (69%) of American adults believe society should be doing more to encourage adoption from foster care.

Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth
The Midwest Study provides a comprehensive picture of how foster youth are faring during this transition since the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 became law. Two new studies have recently been released:

The Issue Brief, When Should the State Cease Parenting? Evidence from the Midwest Study, discusses the potential benefits of allowing foster youth to remain in care past age 18. In particular, data from the Midwest Study suggest that allowing foster youth to remain in care past age 18 increases their likelihood of attending college and their likelihood of receiving independent living services after age 19. It may also increase earnings and delay pregnancy.

Outcomes at Age 21 is based on survey data collected from the 591 study participants who were interviewed when they were 21 years old and examines the experiences of these young people across a variety of domains.

College Cost Reduction and Access Act for Foster Youth Passes
November 2007 - The College Cost Reduction and Access Act was passed into law regarding financial aid eligibility for youth in foster care. Effective July 1, 2009 the definition of "independent student" as defined in current law will include youth in foster care who are adopted after their thirteenth birthday. Under this new law, youth who are adopted after their 13th birthday will not need to include their adoptive parents' income, asset, or other information for purposes of determining need for federal student financial aid. Read a summary of the definition change released by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Report Highlights Foster Care Rates
October 3, 3007 - Hitting the MARC: Establishing Foster Care Minimum Adequate Rates for Children calculates the real expenses of caring for a child in foster care and recommends foster care rates for the states and the District of Columbia. Hitting the MARC demonstrates that rates of support for children in foster care are far below what is necessary to provide basic care for children in care in nearly every state.

Rhode Island Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative: Two Years of Progress
September 2007 - Rhode Island Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative is part of a national effort to help youth in foster care make successful transitions to adulthood. To participate in the Rhode Island Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative program youth must be between the ages of 14 and 23 and currently or formerly in foster care. Download the Fact Sheet.

Many Children Exposed to Trauma
The National Center for Children in Poverty’s new report, Strengthening Policies to Support Children, Youth, and Families Who Experience Trauma, draws attention to children and youth exposed to trauma. Despite the magnitude of the problem, the report finds that most current policies fail to address these children’s needs and offers policy recommendations. Read the report and the companion fact sheet.

2007 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook: Child Welfare Indicators
August 7, 2007 - This fact sheet summarizes the data in the 2007 Factbook related to child welfare. Also read find out what's new in the 2007 Factbook.

18th Annual 2007 KIDS COUNT Data Book
July 25, 2007 - The Annie E. Casey Foundation released the 18th annual KIDS COUNT Data Book, a national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the U.S. By providing policymakers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being, KIDS COUNT seeks to enrich local, state, and national discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all children. This year’s essay examines the child welfare system and challenges the country to make lifelong connections for children and youth in foster care a national priority. Read the Rhode Island pages in the Data Book, the RI Fact Sheet and Press Release or browse the KIDS COUNT Data Book.

Testimony Regarding the RI Department of Children, Youth and Families Caseloads
December 14, 2006 - Jill Beckwith, Policy Analyst at Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, presented the concerns the organization has regarding several aspects of Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families policies and operations, and their implications for the health and well-being of children in Rhode Island. Read the testimony presented to the Rhode Island Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.

Foster Care Documentation Clarified in the DRA
December 2006 - Technical correction measures addressing the Congressional intent of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) have been included in a package that extends popular tax cuts (H.R. 6111). These changes could help preserve Medicaid access for thousands of abused and neglected children who enter the foster care system each year.

Funding for Children’s Services Will Continue at Current Levels
December 2006 - Congress was unable to reach consensus on FY 2007 funding for discretionary programs including child care, Head Start, child abused prevention, education, juvenile justice and housing. In order to avoid a government shutdown, Congress passed another stop gap spending measure to keep government operations running until February 15th. Incoming Appropriations Committee Chairmen, Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Rep. David Obey (D-WI) announced in a press release their intentions to extend the continuing resolution until the end of FY 2007, possibly keeping children’s funding frozen for the reminder of the year.

World Renowned Expert to Discuss 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, will discuss the development and prevention of antisocial and violent behavior on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. at Brown University in MacMillan Hall’s Starr Auditorium, 167 Thayer Street. This event is free and open to the public. Download the press release and an invitation for additional information.

Children in Foster Care May have to Delay Health Care because of Federal Regulations on Citizenship Requirment 
Children removed from their homes because of neglect or abuse and placed in foster care may face delays in getting medical care because of the manner in which the federal government is implementing a provision of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005.

Woonsocket Child Abuse and Neglect Mapping Project

These maps were prepared by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT as part of the work for the Woonsocket Child Abuse and Neglect Task Force to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect in Woonsocket. Included are maps related to indicated and unfounded investigations of child abuse and neglect in the city of Woonsocket.

Child Fatality Review Panel Findings Released
October 31, 2005 - Office of the Child Advocate released the findings and recommendations of the Child Fatality Review Panel that was convened to investigate the death of T.J. Wright. Cathie Walsh, Deputy Director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, served on the panel. Download the report or the article printed in the Providence Journal.

Adoption and Legal Guardianship Fact Sheet was developed by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT as a companion piece to the Grandparents and Other Relative Caregivers in Rhode Island Issue Brief. This fact sheet details the rights and responsibilities associated with adoption compared to legal guardianship.

Family Violence Study
A new study released by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics on June 12th finds that declines in family violence continue, along with overall declines in violent crime.

Evaluation of Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth
Nationally each year, some 20,000 youths who were once removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect leave their second home -- the child welfare system -- when they turn 18. A new study released by the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago, believed to be the broadest of its kind in 20 years, has found that this can have devastating consequences.

Safety, Permanency and Well-Being for Children in State Care
The Issue Brief summarizes the outcome of Rhode Island’s Child and Family Services Review by the US Department of Health and Human Services(HHS). RI only achieve one of the six national quantitative standards and achieved substantial conformity on one of the seven systemic factors. The Issue Brief also discusses some of the report’s most salient recommendations for the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF). DCYF recently completed its self-assessment for the HHS Child and Family Services Review due in March 2005.