BrightStars Honors Early Learning Programs December 8, 2010 - More than 300 early care and education program directors, early childhood teachers, community leaders and policy makers gathered at the Starry, Starry Night event to celebrate and salute the early learning programs that have joined BrightStars, Rhode Island's Quality Rating and Improvement System. There are 77 programs which serve more than 1,800 children participating in BrightStars. Read the Providence Journal article and view photos from the event. For more information about the program, go to www.BrightStars.org.
Release of Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters Issue Brief December 6, 2010 - Read Rhode Island KIDS COUNT's latest Issue Brief entitled Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters. The Issue Brief covers the development of early literacy skills from birth through grade three, data on early literacy achievement in Rhode Island and recommendations for improving reading proficiency rates in the early grades. Read the article, Most RI Fourth Graders Not Proficient in Reading, or view the press release.
TV Show Focuses on Juvenile Detention Alternatives in Rhode Island November 2010 - View the latest episode of the Rhode Island Kids Count Cable Television Show which focuses on Rhode Island's Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). On the show are Acting Superintendent of the Rhode Island Training School for Youth Kevin Aucoin and Annie E. Casey Foundation JDAI Team Leader Jim Payne.
Annual Celebration of Children's Health Luncheon November 15, 2010 - More than 140 community leaders, including Governor-Elect Chafee, Lt. Governor Roberts, and Senate President Paiva Weed gathered for the 2010 Celebration of Children's Health. State leaders discussed how Rhode Island can increase children's health coverage by stepping up to the Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge and celebrated the progress the state has made in achieving positive health outcomes for children. View the Providence Business News article on the event and the event photos, press release and presentation.
Release of RIte Care Results November 15, 2010 - RIte Care has a 17-year track record of providing access to high-quality health coverage and access to health care for children, pregnant women and parents. View RIte Care Results to learn about the many ways RIte Care works for Rhode Island's children and families.
Visitation program launched for at-risk mothers November 1, 2010 - Read the article, Home visitation program launched for at-risk mothers, in the Providence Business News. The article is about Rhode Island KIDS COUNT's press conference recognizing US Senator Jack Reed for his leadership in securing federal funding for the Nurse-Family Partnership Initiative, an evidence-based home visiting program that helps first-time parents succeed. View photos from the event and the episode of the Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Cable Television Show featuring nurses from Children's Friend discussing the NFP initiative.
New England Voter's Guide October 29, 2010 - The New England Alliance for Children's Health just released results of a regional candidate questionnaire on a variety of issues affecting New England's children and families. To find out where candidates stand on issues affecting children and families, view the Voter's Guide.
Annual Lipsitt-Duchin Lectures in Child and Youth Behavior and Development October 21, 2010 - Watch the 2010 lecture, Energizing the Community to Nurture Healthy Young People: Taking Advances in Prevention Science to Scale, featuring Dr. J. David Hawkins, a well known researcher in the field of prevention science from the University of Washington, Seattle. The response panel included Margaret Holland McDuff of Family Service and Charles Williams of the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Heathcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals. View photos from the event.
Race to the Top on Kids Count TV Show October 2010 - Rhode Island is one of 12 states to win the federal Race to the Top competition. The latest episode of the Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Cable Television Show features Education Commissioner Deborah Gist and Colleen Jermain, President of the RI School Superintendents' Association discussing how Rhode Island plans to use Race to the Top to improve student achievement. Read a one-page summary of Rhode Island's plans for the Race to the Top funds.
Newport Data In Your Backyard October 5, 2010 - Download the Newport Data In Your Backyard: Findings from the 2010 Factbook Presentation which was given to an audience of community leaders, parents and policy makers at an event sponsored by the the Newport Partnership for Families. The presentation highlights of improvements and declines in the well-being of children and youth in Newport and included comparisons of Newport to other communities with high child poverty rates and the nearby communities of Middletown and Portsmouth.
New Census Data on Child Poverty September 28, 2010 - According to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, 16.9% (37,731) of Rhode Island's children were living in poverty in 2009. Rhode Island was ranked 5th in New England and 19th nationally (where 1st is best). Read more in The Providence Journal article, Census shows recession hit broad swath of RI.
Policy Briefing Papers for Candidates for Public Office September 21, 2010 - Campaign for Kids: Policy Briefing Papers is a resource to inform candidates for public office and elected officials about strategies to improve outcomes for children and families. The Policy Briefing Papers contain background information and policy recommendations in the areas of children's health, education, early childhood, poverty, child abuse and neglect, and juvenile justice. The Briefing Papers were developed for the Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on Children's Issues sponsored by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and the RI Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. View photos from the Forum and read the article from The Providence Journal.
Number of Uninsured RI Children Increases September 16, 2010 - New data from the U.S. Census Bureau show 7.7% (18,000) of Rhode Island children under age 18 were uninsured in the three year period from 2007-2009. This is an increase from 6.4% in the three-year period from 2004-2006. Rhode Island now ranks 19th in the nation for children's health insurance coverage (where first is the best), down from 14th last year.
RIte Care and Family Resource Counselor Program Highlighted as National Models September 3, 2010 - Rhode Island’s RIte Care and Family Resource Counselor programs are highlighted as national models at HHS Secretary Sebelius’ Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge event. Read a press statement from Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Executive Director, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and read more about Secretary Sebelius' challenge.
Release of 2010 KIDS COUNT Data Book July 27, 2010 - Annie E. Casey Foundation releases 2010 KIDS COUNT Data Book, a state-by-state report on children’s well-being. Rhode Island ranks among the top 10 best in the country for 3 of the 10 indicators tracked in the Data Book: child death rate, teen death rate and teen birth rate.
RI Early Learning Council Seeks Public Comments on Strategic Report July 23, 2010 - Review and provide comments on the July 22nd draft of the Rhode Island Early Learning Council's Strategic Report. The Council was created on June 15, 2010 by Governor Carcieri and is working to expand access to high-quality early learning programs. Comments are due by Thursday, July 29 to rikids@rikidscount.org. A public hearing to receive public comments on the draft Strategic Report will be held on Thursday, July 29, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Community College of Rhode Island - Knight Campus, Rooms 1128 and 1130, 400 East Avenue, Warwick, RI.
2010 Legislative Wrap-Up July 9, 2010 - Read Rhode Island KIDS COUNT's newly released 2010 Legislative Wrap-Up. The Wrap-Up highlights legislative victories for children and details selected laws and budget appropriations affecting children in the areas of economic well-being, health, safety, child care and early childhood education, and K-12 education.
Rhode Island Children in Immigrant Families July 1, 2010 - Read Rhode Island KIDS COUNT's recently updated Issue Brief, Rhode Island Children Living in Immigrant Families. The Issue Brief provides a statistical portrait of children in immigrant families in Rhode Island.
Public Supports DREAM Act July 1, 2010 - A new poll of Americans comissioned by First Focus shows strong support for the DREAM Act, federal legislation that would provide undocumented students brought to the United States as children with the opportunity to earn permanent legal status upon meeting certain requirements.
Pawtucket Data In Your Backyard: Findings from the 2010 Factbook June 18, 2010 - Rhode Island KIDS COUNT presented Pawtucket Data In Your Backyard: Findings from the 2010 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook to an audience of community leaders, parents and policymakers. The presentation was brought to the community in partnership with the Pawtucket School Department Child Opportunity Zone. For more information, download the press release.
Providence Data In Your Backyard: Findings from the 2010 Factbook June 11, 2010 - Rhode Island KIDS COUNT presented Providence Data In Your Backyard: Findings from the 2010 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook to an audience of over 50 community leaders, parents and policymakers. At the meeting, Colonel Dean Esserman, Providence Chief of Police, and John J. Lombardi, Providence City Councilman, made opening remarks. The presentation was brought to the community in partnership with Casey Family Services. For more information, download the press release and photos from the event.
RI KIDS COUNT and Elizabeth Burke Bryant Recognized for Leadership June 3, 2010 - During The Rhode Island Foundation’s 2010 Annual Meeting, the newly inaugurated Community Leadership Award was presented to Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and Elizabeth Burke Bryant. View the video presented at the event honoring the organization's and Bryant's work.
Latest RIte Care Workshop Materials Available Online May 26, 2010 - If you missed the latest RIte Care workshop co-sponsored Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and the Poverty Institute, Health Coverage for Immigrant Children: Recent Changes to RIte Care Eligibility, you can now access materials here, including PowerPoint slides, handouts, and useful resources for families.
Children's Mental Health Awarness Day May 6, 2010 - Today marks the 5th anniversary of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, a day to promote awareness of the mental health needs of children and their families in Rhode Island and across the nation. This year, the focus is on the mental health needs of young children ages birth to eight. Rhode Island KIDS COUNT’s Issue Brief on children’s behavioral health focuses on how psychiatric hospitalizations fit into the larger continuum of care of behavioral health services for children.
RI Kids Count TV Show Features New University of Rhode Island President May 2010 - On the this episode of the Rhode Island KIDS COUNT TV Show, Dr. David Dooley, President of the University of Rhode Island, discusses becoming the president of the University, opportunities for community invovlement in the University and factors contributing to students being ready for college.
The State of Preschool 2009 May 4, 2010 - Findings in The State of Preschool 2009: State Preschool Yearbook include a decrease in progress in three key dimensions of state funded preschool nationally - enrollment, quality standards and resources. The report highlights the fact that although Rhode Island’s preschoolers were not offered access to state-funded pre-k education during the 2008-2009 school year, the state has since launched a Pre-K Demonstration Program in four urban communities, providing pre-K to a small number of preschoolers.
RI KIDS COUNT TV Show Focuses on RI Public Education System April 23, 2010 - View new episodes of the Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Television Show featuring Senator Hanna Gallo and Representative Edith Ajello discussing the proposed RI education funding formula, and Rhode Island is Ready, a campaign to ensure that all Rhode Island children have access to a quality of education.
New Report Highlights Child Care and Preschool Quality in RI April 15, 2010 - According to a new report on the quality of child care centers and preschools in RI, 86% of classrooms serving preschool-age children and 74% of classrooms serving infants and toddlers were providing "medium quality" care. While only 10% of preschool classrooms and 6% of infant-toddler classrooms were providing "high quality" programs that would be expected to improve child development and promote early learning. For more information, view highlights from the report in a powerpoint presentation and the press release.
Rhode Island is Finalist in the "Race to the Top" March 4, 2010 - Rhode Island is one of 16 finalists for federal "Race to the Top" funds from the U.S. Department of Education. The finalists were chosen from among 40 states and the District of Columbia. Winners will be chosen from among the 16 finalists and announced in April. To receive federal "Race to the Top" funding states must show progress in reducing achievement gaps and increasing innovation in four critical areas: improving teacher effectiveness, accelerating the performance of low-performing schools, establishing world-class standards and assessments, and developing user-friendly data systems.
President Obama Releases FY2011 Budget Proposal President Obama's budget proposal for FY 2011 has also been released. For more information on appropriations to programs affecting children and families, view the Child Welfare League of America's analysis of the President's budget requestand a chart offunding for selected children's programs.
Rhode Island Kids Count TV Show Spotlights Children's Mental and Behavioral Health February 5, 2010 - Watch the Rhode Island Kids Count cable television show featuring Cathy Ciano, Executive Director, Parent Support Network of Rhode Island and Elizabeth Earls, President and CEO, Rhode Island Council of Community Mental Health Organizations about mental health services and supports for children and families in Rhode Island.
Federal and Rhode Island Budget Snapshots February 5, 2010 - Rhode Island KIDS COUNT has prepared snapshots of select provisions affecting children and families in the Governor's FY2011 Budget Request. The Budget snapshots are now available in the following issue areas: K-12 Education and Health Insurance Coverage for Children and Families. Budget snapshots for more issue areas coming soon!
President Obama's budget proposal for FY 2011 has also been released. For more information on appropriations to programs affecting children and families, view the Child Welfare League of America's analysis of the President's budget requestand a chart offunding for selected children's programs
Television Show Highlights Growing Readers Initiative January 25, 2010 - View the lastest episode of the Rhode Island Kids Count Cable Television Show highlighting the partnership between Central Falls Public Schools and The Learning Community to improve students' reading proficiency districtwide.
Psychiatric Hospitalizations and the Continuum of Care January 21, 2010 - A new Rhode Island Kids Count Issue Brief provides new information on the nearly 1,696 hospitalizations of children under age 18 with a primary diagnosis of a mental disorder at Rhode Island hospitals. The Children’s Behavioral Health: Psychiatric Hospitalizations and the Continuum of Care Issue Brief provides recommendations on how psychiatric hospitalizations fit into the larger continuum of behavioral health services for children. For more information, view pictures from the event and the press release.
Young Children Undercounted in Decennial Census January 11, 2010 - The latest KIDS COUNT Working Paper, "Why Are Young Children Missed So Often in the Census?," examines data that shows that more than 1 million young children under age 10 were missed in the 2000 Census and over three-quarters of a million children under age 5 were missed. This undercount of young children in the Census will cause them to suffer if their community does not receive the resources it needs for schools, clinics or child care centers. Census data are used, in whole or in part, for more than 140 programs that distribute more than $400 billion to states and localities, including child-focused programs.
E-News Highlights 2010 RI Legislative Session and School-Funding Formula in RI January 7, 2010 - Read the online version of the new issue of the Rhode Island Kids Count E-News. This issue includes articles on the 2010 Rhode Island General Assembly legislative session, the RI Interfaith Coalition Vigil to reduce poverty, establishing a school funding formula in Rhode Island and the latest Rhode Island Kids Count cable television show.
Release of Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters Issue Brief
TV Show Focuses on Juvenile Detention Alternatives in Rhode Island
Annual Celebration of Children's Health Luncheon
Release of RIte Care Results
Visitation program launched for at-risk mothers 
New England Voter's Guide
Annual Lipsitt-Duchin Lectures in Child and Youth Behavior and Development
Race to the Top on Kids Count TV Show
Newport Data In Your Backyard
New Census Data on Child Poverty
Important Milestone in National Health Reform
Policy Briefing Papers for Candidates for Public Office
Number of Uninsured RI Children Increases
July 27, 2010 - Annie E. Casey Foundation releases 
RI Early Learning Council Seeks Public Comments on Strategic Report
2010 Legislative Wrap-Up
Rhode Island Children in Immigrant Families
Public Supports DREAM Act
Pawtucket Data In Your Backyard: Findings from the 2010 Factbook
Providence Data In Your Backyard: Findings from the 2010 Factbook
RI KIDS COUNT and Elizabeth Burke Bryant Recognized for Leadership
Latest RIte Care Workshop Materials Available Online
Children's Mental Health Awarness Day
RI Kids Count TV Show Features New University of Rhode Island President 
RI Kids Count TV Show Focuses on Preparing Students for Higher Ed
RI KIDS COUNT TV Show Focuses on RI Public Education System
New Report Highlights Child Care and Preschool Quality in RI
Release of 2010 Rhode Island Kids Count Fctbook
Rhode Island is Finalist in the "Race to the Top"
Policymakers Tour New Pre-K Classrooms
resident Obama Releases FY2011 Budget Proposal
Rhode Island Kids Count TV Show Spotlights Children's Mental and Behavioral Health
Federal and Rhode Island Budget Snapshots
Television Show Highlights Growing Readers Initiative 
Psychiatric Hospitalizations and the Continuum of Care
Young Children Undercounted in Decennial Census
E-News Highlights 2010 RI Legislative Session and School-Funding Formula in RI
Interfaith Coalition Fights Poverty
New National Indicator Briefs on Key Indicators of Child Well-Being
