New Policy Brief on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Children's Economic Well-Being
Racial and ethnic diversity has increased in the United States and Rhode Island over the last several decades and is projected to rise in the future. The diversity of Rhode Island is an asset; however, there are wide, persistent, and unacceptable disparities in children’s economic well-being by race and ethnicity.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Children’s Economic Well-Being in Rhode Island includes disaggregated data by race and ethnicity on key indicators of child and family well-being including unemployment rates, family income, poverty, wealth, homeownership, and postsecondary education. The report suggests solutions and actions Rhode Island can take to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities and promote equitable, racially aware, and community-driven policies. Please see
the full publication,
the media release, and
the release event recording.
Housing Instability and Homelessness Among Rhode Island Children
Safe, affordable, and stable housing maintains the health, safety, and emotional well-being of families and children and provides a safe place for children to eat, sleep, play, and grow. When housing costs outstrip families' incomes, families may live in low-quality and overcrowded housing, move frequently, or become homeless - all of which impact health, academic achievement, and future success.
Housing Instability and Homelessness Among Rhode Island Children contains key recommendations to support children and families currently experiencing housing instability and homelessness, as well as recommendations for prevention efforts. Please see the
full publication,
presentation,
event recording, and
media release.
Annual Celebration of Children's Health
We held out annual Celebration of Children's Health & Presentation of Community Covering Kids Awards via Zoom on Monday, November 22, 2021 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Please see the presentation, event recording, and media release.
Newport Data in Your Backyard
Our Data in Your Backyard series presents community-level child well-being data from the Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook. On Tuesday, October 19, 2021, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and Newport Partnership for Families collaborated for the Newport Data in Your Backyard. Please see
the presentation,
the event recording, and coverage in the
Newport Daily News!
Woonsocket Data in Your Backyard
Our Data in Your Backyard series presents community-level child well-being data from the Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook. On Thursday, September 23, 2021, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and Connecting for Children and Families partnered for the Woonsocket Data in Your Backyard. Please see
the presentation here, and
the event recording here!
New Obesity Policy Briefs
School Climate Policy Roundtable
In January of 2021, the Aspen Institute Education & Society Program and ExcelinEd released
A Policymakers School Climate Playbook: Creating Opportunities for Meaningful Student Engagement. This report provides a clear set of recommendations to guide policymakers in building a comprehensive and coherent statewide approach for improving school climate. These strategies will help to increase equity so all students have access to a healthy and positive school climate. Rhode Island KIDS COUNT held a policy roundtable on Monday, June 7 to discuss how to build a comprehensive and coherent statewide approach for improving school climate here in Rhode Island. Please see
the event recording here!
Now Available: The 2021 Factbook!
- The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Rhode Island Children: In this year’s Factbook, we highlight the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Rhode Island children and families’ economic well-being, physical and mental health, safety, access to education, and educational outcomes as well as the strategies that the federal government, state government, and community agencies have put in place to support Rhode Island children and families during the pandemic.
- Racial and Ethnic Disparities: Throughout the Factbook, data on racial and ethnic disparities are presented in as many indicators as possible and summarized in the Racial and Ethnic Disparities indicator. Collecting and reporting on data disaggregated by race and ethnicity is an important first step to identifying ways to eliminate them. Data on disparities and information about the historical and systemic racism that has resulted in these disparities can be used to identify policies to dismantle racism and reduce and eliminate disparities.
New Policy Brief: Early Intervention in Rhode Island
Infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities and those who face significant family circumstances need extra help and should receive high-quality Early Intervention services to develop essential language, social-emotional, and motor skills to reduce the need for services when they are older. Effective Early Intervention services help children make developmental progress and can help them catch up with their peers. Researchers have found that about one-third of infants and toddlers who received Early Intervention no longer had a developmental delay, disability, or special education need in kindergarten. Please see our
full publication here and the
virtual release event and discussion here.
Rhode Island Reads Partner Meeting: Virtual
Child Hunger in Rhode Island
The importance of nutrition to child development cannot be overstated. Hunger and lack of regular access to sufficient food are linked to serious physical, psychological, emotional, and academic problems in children and can interfere with their growth and development. Food insecurity is a method to measure and assess the risk of hunger. Please see
our newest Issue Brief focused on nutrition and child hunger,
the release event recording and
the release event presentation, as well as
our media release.
Annual Celebration of Children's Health
About 200 community leaders, elected officials, and health care advocates gathered virtually on November 16, 2020 for the 20th annual Celebration of Children’s Health to reflect on the progress that Rhode Island has made in achieving positive health outcomes for children — including the fact that Rhode Island is now ranked second best in the nation for children’s health coverage.
Jennifer Jencks, Ph.D., Director of the Access Center at Bradley Hospital, and Central Falls Mayor James A. Diossa are this year’s recipients of the Covering Kids Award. Dr. Jencks oversees Kids’ Link RI, a 24/7 hotline for parents and caregivers seeking information on behavioral health services for children and youth in crisis. She was honored for the work she is doing to ensure that children and families have access to critical mental and behavioral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Central Falls Mayor James A. Diossa was presented an award for his leadership in putting the health and well-being of Central Falls' children front and center during his time as mayor and for his strong advocacy on race equity, meeting the health needs of immigrant children and their families, and the 2020 Census. Please see our media release, the event presentation, and the full event recording.
Trends in Tobacco Use Among Rhode Island Youth
E-cigarettes are devices that allow users to inhale an aerosol which typically contains nicotine, flavorings, and other additives or chemicals. Both middle and high school students report using e-cigarettes at much higher rates than traditional cigarettes. From 2017 to 2019, the percentage of Rhode Island high school students using e-cigarettes increased from 20% to 30%, while cigarette use continued to decline. Please see the event recording,
Providence Business News coverage, and
Providence Journal coverage. Please see the full Tobacco Fact Sheets for information on:
Youth, Family, and Community-Based Approaches to Equity in Education
The Rhode Island public education system has been plagued by racism since its founding in the early 1800s, and the inequities that developed as a result continue to be one of Rhode Island’s greatest challenges. Youth voice, family engagement, mental and behavioral health supports, expanded learning opportunities, and student-centered instruction all have a positive impact on student outcomes and when integrated into the design and implementation of schools can help address inequities in education based on race, ethnicity, and income. Creating policies and practices that are racially aware, that incorporate a whole child approach, and that recognize and address the cognitive impacts of trauma can help address equity.
This new report provides recommendations on how schools can develop and sustain strong partnerships with students, families, and communities to promote excellent, equitable, and sustained school improvement efforts. For more, please see
the release event recording and
the media release.
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Makes Data Local in Newport
At the Newport Data in Your Backyard virtual event on October 6, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Deputy Director Stephanie Geller led a data-driven discussion on the well-being of Newport children and families. The presentation’s data comes from the 2020 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook, and includes improvements and declines in economic well-being, education, health, child welfare, and safety. The event was brought to the community in collaboration with Newport Partnership for Families and BankNewport. For more information, please see the presentation, media release, and event recording.
Virtual Release Event - Policies and Practices Supporting Student-Centered Learning in Rhode Island: School Climate
This new report uses an equity lens to look at policies, practices, and measures of school climate, including student mental and behavioral health. The report suggests actions we can take to ensure that all students, particularly students of color, low-income students, differently-abled students and Multilingual Learners, are in schools that prioritize strong relationships between students and educators and promote excellent, equitable learning while also ensuring student safety and emotional well-being. For more, please see the media release and release event recording.
Virtual Release Event - Issue Brief: Child Poverty in Rhode Island
On Thursday, June 11, 2020, we released our latest Issue Brief: Child Poverty in Rhode Island. Reflections were provided by Congressman David Cicilline, Sharon Conard-Wells (Housing Network of Rhode Island), Courtney Hawkins (Rhode Island Department of Human Services), Linda Katz (The Economic Progress Institute), and Nirva LaFortune (Providence City Council). This report highlights the far-reaching negative impacts of poverty on children and families, as well as extensive recommendations to address the issue. An increase in child poverty and widening racial and ethnic disparities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is a serious concern. Please see the media release, full publication, and the release event video.
Virtual Strolling Thunder RI and Child Care Day
- On Wednesday, May 20, 2020, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT facilitated Strolling Thunder RI in partnership with RIght From the Start. Although we can’t physically make it to the State House for our annual advocacy event, that couldn't stop our army of parents and cute kids from “virtually strolling” to push for policies and legislation to ensure that ALL Rhode Island kids, regardless of zip code, race, ethnicity, or family income, get off to the right start in life.
- Please see the activity on Twitter, the activity on Facebook, and amazing Facebook live Capitol TV broadcast.
- Click here to learn more about the RIght from the Start Campaign’s policy priorities.
- RIght from the Start is a campaign to advance policies for young children and their families in Rhode Island. RIght from the Start Steering Committee members include Beautiful Beginnings, Economic Progress Institute, Latino Policy Institute, Rhode Island Association for Infant Mental Health, Rhode Island Association for the Education of Young Children, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, and Woonsocket Head Start Child Development Association.
Virtual Release: Updated Child Overweight and Obesity Policy Brief
On May 19, 2020, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, in partnership with the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute and the Center for Health Data and Analysis at the Rhode Island Department of Health held a virtual dialogue on newly available child overweight and obesity data. At the event, we released our latest Policy Brief -- Childhood Overweight and Obesity: Updated Data for Rhode Island. For more information, please see the full publication, media release, and virtual release event recording.
On January 27, 2020, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT held the second annual Celebrating Young Children Luncheon. At the event, 200 attendees celebrated progress, discussed goals for the future, and recognized the commitment of leaders to providing a strong start for young children birth through age 8 and their families. The RIght from the Start Campaign – a campaign to advance policies for young children and their families in Rhode Island - was also introduced at the Luncheon. For more information, please see the data presentation, event pictures, and media release.
The RIght from the Start campaign was also introduced at the Luncheon. RIght from the Start is a campaign to advance policies for young children and their families in Rhode Island. Please see the RIght from the Start 2020 Legislative and State Budget Priorities! RIght from the Start Steering Committee members include Beautiful Beginnings, Economic Progress Institute, Latino Policy Institute, Rhode Island Association for Infant Mental Health, Rhode Island Association for the Education of Young Children, and Rhode Island KIDS COUNT.
Rhode Island Alliance for College and Career Readiness - Working Towards Equity Together
More than 120 students, parents, teachers, policymakers, and community, higher education, and business leaders gathered on December 9, 2019 to focus on the urgent need for equity in college and career readiness and access. Participants collectively brainstormed how to work together to help all Rhode Island students gain the skills and knowledge, support, and financial resources they need to be successful in college and careers. Please see the media release and event pictures.
Celebration of Children's Health Luncheon
More than 200 community leaders, elected officials, and health care advocates will gathered on November 25, 2019 for the annual Celebration of Children’s Health Luncheon to reflect on the progress that Rhode Island has made in achieving positive health outcomes for children — including the fact that Rhode Island is now ranked third best in the nation for children’s health coverage. In 2018, 97.8% of Rhode Island children under age 19 had health coverage. For more information, please see the event pictures, the data presentation, and the media release.
"SUPERS Read” Statewide Reading Event
Late October through mid-November, Rhode Island Superintendents and other guest readers read to infants and toddlers enrolled in local child care and Early Head Start programs. The Rhode Island Association for the Education of Young Children, United Way of Rhode Island and Rhode Island KIDS COUNT organized "SUPERS Read" to highlight the importance of reading to children to promote school readiness. Please click here to see pictures!
Equitable Access to College and Career Readiness Opportunities in Rhode Island
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT released two new publications at a policy roundtable on Tuesday, October 15, 2019.This event will share highlights of these two special reports -- Equitable Access to College and Career Readiness Opportunities and Advisory Systems and Individual Learning Plans -- that examine policies and practices that support equitable access to college and career readiness opportunities and how Rhode Island can ensure that these opportunities are available for all students, particularly low-income students, students of color, and students in high-need communities. Please see the media release and event pictures.
Warwick Data in Your Backyard
The Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Data in Your Backyard series presents community-level child well-being data from the Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook in communities across the state. Rhode Island KIDS COUNT joined with Warwick Coalition to Prevent Child Abuse on the Warwick Data in Your Backyard on October 8, 2019. Please see the full data presentation.
Newport Data in Your Backyard
The Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Data in Your Backyard series presents community-level child well-being data from the Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook in communities across the state. Rhode Island KIDS COUNT joined with Newport Partnership for Families and Bank Newport on the Newport Data in Your Backyard on October 1, 2019. Please see the full data presentation and Newport Daily News coverage.
Woonsocket Data in Your Backyard
The Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Data in Your Backyard series presents community-level child well-being data from the Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook in communities across the state. Rhode Island KIDS COUNT joined with Connecting for Children and Families on the Woonsocket Data in Your Backyard on September 20, 2019. Please see the full data presentation.
Children's Health Roundtable
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT was pleased to join with PCMH Kids and EOHHS for a children's health roundtable discussion with Secretary Womazetta Jones. Please see our Executive Director Elizabeth Burke Bryant's data presentation on Rhode Island children, and pictures from the discussion.
Access to School Breakfast
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT released its newest publication, Access to School Breakfast: A Key Strategy for Improving Children’s Health, Education, and Well-Being at a policy roundtable on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. Hunger and lack of regular access to food are linked to serious physical, psychological, emotional, and academic problems in children and can interfere with their growth and development. School Breakfast is an effective way to fill these nutritional gaps. Implementing key strategies such as the Community Eligibility Program, Universal School Breakfast, and “Breakfast After the Bell” can increase participation. Please see the media release, Policy Brief, Twitter activity, Health Check news segment, Providence Business News coverage, and Coffee Break with Frank Coletta.
The Annual Lipsitt-Duchin Lecture in Child Development
The annual Lipsitt-Duchin Lecture in Child Development, co-sponsored by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and Brown University, took place on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m at Brown University - MacMillan 117 (167 Thayer Street). This year's speaker was Dr. Ken Dodge of Duke University, and the topic was Birth-to-Five Public Policy to Nurture Child Development. The Discussants were Courtney Hawkins, Director, Rhode Island Department of Human Services; and Danita Roberts, Program Manager/Supervisor Healthy Families America, Meeting Street. Please see event pictures!
Strolling Thunder Rhode Island
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, in partnership with ZERO TO THREE, organized a major advocacy event to bring approximately 40 Rhode Island families with babies and toddlers to the State House. Strolling Thunder Rhode Island took place on Wednesday, May 1, 2019. Strolling Thunder™ is the flagship advocacy event of the Think Babies™ campaign, part of a national campaign designed to bring attention to the many issues that affect what babies and families need to thrive. Please see the media advisory, event pictures, Capitol TV segment, and Twitter activity for more information!
The 25th Annual Factbook Breakfast
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT celebrated its 25th Anniversary of child advocacy at the 2019 Factbook Breakfast on Monday, April 8, 2019. Please see the 2019 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook, media release, executive summary, Twitter activity, event pictures, and media coverage.
Childhood Overweight and Obesity: New Data for Rhode Island
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Center for Health Data and Analysis, the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute, the State Innovation Model, and three health insurance plans – Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, UnitedHealthcare, and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island collaborated on a project to collect the most accurate childhood overweight and obesity data at the state and city/town level that could also be analyzed by race/ethnicity, age, gender, and insurance status. This is the first clinical/claims-based statewide data set of childhood overweight and obesity in Rhode Island. For more information, please see the Policy Brief, media release, event pictures, and Providence Business News coverage.
Infants and Toddlers in the Child Welfare System in Rhode Island
Experiences during the first three years of a child's life are critical to healthy brain development and positive relationships with parents and caregivers and lay the foundation for social, emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development. Nationally and in Rhode Island, very young children are more likely to experience abuse and neglect than older children. In Rhode Island in 2018, nearly one in four victims of child abuse and neglect were infants and toddlers under age three (856 out of 3,505 victims). For more information, including key recommendations to support infants and toddlers involved in the child welfare system, please see the Issue Brief, media release, presentation, event pictures, and coverage in The Providence Journal and ConvergenceRI.
(First ever!) Celebrating Young Children Luncheon
At our Celebrating Young Children Luncheon on January 28, 2019 at the Providence Marriott, we celebrated progress, discussed goals for the future, and recognized the commitment of leaders to providing a strong start for young children birth through age 8 and their families. At the Luncheon, we released our 2019 Policy Priorities for Young Children. Please see event pictures, the event presentation, and Providence Journal coverage!