A Message to Our Partners

Communities, families, parents, and students -- We see you! We see the weight that #Covid19 has placed on your shoulders.

We ourselves are parents, children of older adults, and neighbors -- as well as Rhode Islanders. We are with you in this.

And while we can’t make it go away, we want you to know that you’re not alone.

In light of the pandemic, many priorities and tasks have been shifted -- and necessarily so. Social distancing requires a level of flexibility and patience that can feel downright uncomfortable.

But it’s in our name -- Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. Kids count. Families count. Their communities count. Please rest assured that we are committed to the work ahead. Public health and safety is our first priority right now, and advocating for Rhode Island children and families is a core piece of this priority. All staff are available via email and we are very active on social media.

Let's Get Social While Social Distancing

“We know how perceptive children are and how naturally curious they are. Kids really feel empowered when they know what to do to keep themselves safe...What we're trying to do is share either educational or fun activities for families and kids to do to keep them occupied - and also we care about parents and families, too. We know that everybody's routine is disrupted," -- this excerpt from our chat with Barbara Morse summarizes our efforts on Facebook and Twitter .

Please join the conversation on these platforms while we navigate COVID-19. And please send any suggestions or ideas to our Communications Manager Katy Chu !

Important Resources

The Rhode Island Department of Health has the latest guidance and information on Covid-19.
The Economic Progress Institute has comprehensive information in English and Spanish on earnings replacement (TDI/UI) and health coverage/health care during the crisis.
The Rhode Island Department of Health has a list of “Grab and Go” meal sites for children across Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island Community Food Bank has a list of food pantry locations and hours.

Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook Release

We will be releasing the 2020 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook electronically on April 6 ^th . The annual Factbook is an important tool for planning and action by community leaders, policymakers, advocates, and others working toward changes that will improve the quality of life for all children.

Now more than ever, we need accurate data on the well-being of our children and families that we can use to make data-informed decisions. We are working to make this important resource available to you electronically on our normal schedule and will release hard copies of the publication when the situation allows.

2020 Census - Adjusted Schedule and RI Responses

The 2020 Census is underway and households across America are responding every day. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau has adjusted 2020 Census operation s in order to:

Protect the health and safety of Census Bureau employees and the American public.
Implement guidance from federal, state, and local health authorities.
Ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities

Anyone can safely fill out the Census privately and securely, anytime, by visiting 2020Census.gov

According to the 2020 Census Response Rate Map , a new Census tool which measures self-response rates, the state of Rhode Island currently ranks #1 in the New York Region. AND Rhode Island has earned a Top 10 ranking in the nation. You can see those results and also measure results for your city, town, neighborhood, and Census tract here !