October 2018
Join Our Team! Deputy Director Opening

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT thanks Jessy Donaldson for her dedicated service and leadership as Deputy Director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. Jessy is transitioning to the part-time position of Fund Development/ Research Analyst in order to continue contributing to the success of our mission while spending more time with her family. If you are interested in joining our team as Deputy Director, please see the job announcement. The deadline for applications is October 24.

Join Us! Annual Celebration of Children's  Health  Luncheon 


Monday, November 19, 2018 
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. 
Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. 

The Providence Marriott 
Charles and Orms Streets 

RSVP by November 9, 2018 

For more information, please contact Katherine Chu, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Communications Manager.  
Fact Sheet Release and Policy Roundtable: Focus on Reducing Chronic Early Absence

The Rhode Island Department of Education, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, and Rhode Island Reads: The Campaign for 3rd Grade Reading hosted a panel discussion on September 14, 2018 to underscore the importance of school attendance to student achievement. 

During the early elementary school years, children develop important academic and social-emotional skills and approaches to learning that are critical for school success. Students who are chronically absent from school during these early years miss opportunities to learn and develop positive relationships within the school community and are at risk of dropping out of high school.

The event featured effective school strategies to reduce chronic early absence, as well as a data presentation and Fact Sheet release.  Please see Focus on Reducing Chronic Early Absence  and event pictures for more!
New Report! Preparing Students for College and Career: Policies Supporting Student-Centered Learning in Rhode Island
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT released Preparing Students for College and Career: Policies Supporting Student-Centered Learning in Rhode Island at a policy roundtable on Monday, September 24, 2018. 

Featured speakers included Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Executive Director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT; Pedro Moya, high school senior and Youth Member of Young Voices; Keith Nalbach, Advisor, The Met High School; Ken Wagner, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education; Colleen Burns Jermain, Superintendent, Newport Public Schools; and Stephanie Geller, Senior Policy Analyst at Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. 

This report provides an overview of Rhode Island policies that support student-centered learning and examines how Rhode Island can support the expansion of student-centered learning practices in schools and ensure that these opportunities are available for all students, particularly low-income students, students of color, and students in high-need communities. For more, please see the full report, media release, and release event pictures.
New National Report! Opening Doors for Young Parents

The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently released a report highlighting the effect of becoming a parent as a teen or young adult. Opening Doors for Young Parents offers recommendations for policymakers to invest in ensuring these young families find pathways to success. Young parents are those who have children in their teens and early 20s. 

This report relies on data from an analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, which found that there are about 3 million parents ages 18 to 24 in the United States. The survey also found that in the state of Rhode Island there are 6,000 parents ages 18 to 24. And in Rhode Island, 79 percent of children of young parents live in low-income families. For more, please see the full report and our Rhode Island-specific media release.
Join Our Mailing List!
Are you interested in specific areas of child well-being? Rhode Island KIDS COUNT publishes E-Newsletters on specific areas related to child well-being: 
  • Children's Health and Health Insurance 
  • Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice 
  • Early Childhood/Early Learning 
  • Student-Centered Learning
  • RI Campaign for Grade-Level Reading 
  • Rhode Island KIDS COUNT also publishes a general interest E-Newsletter. 

Please click here to start receiving these updates today!