Rhode Island KIDS COUNT recently released an updated Child Welfare Fact Sheet: Focus on Young Children in the Child Welfare System. In 2015, children under age 6 represented 45% of all victims of child abuse & neglect in Rhode Island. Young children are especially vulnerable to the negative impacts of abuse & neglect.

The Fact Sheet provides data and information on child abuse and neglect, the importance of positive early experiences and evidence-based home visiting, and makes recommendations on how to improve the quality of care for all young children involved in the child welfare system. 

To see additional publications in the Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Child Welfare Fact Sheet series, please click here.

The first five years in a child's life are crucial to their success in school. Children begin learning at birth and brain development proceeds rapidly in early childhood. Disparities in learning based on access to enriched experiences and environments begin to appear in the first years of life and, without intervention, grow over time. 

Ensuring that young children in the child welfare system have access to high-quality early learning programs is one of the Issue Brief's recommendations.

To learn about access to and financing of high-quality early learning opportunities in Rhode Island, please see Investing in the Future: Financing Early Education & Care in Rhode Island, the event presentation, and our media release.

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT invites you to attend our Annual Celebration of Children's Health & Presentation of Covering Kids Awards! The Luncheon will be held on Monday, November 14, 2016 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Providence Marriott (Charles and Orms Streets). 

RSVP by November 3, 2016 - registration is required. Please register online by clicking here, or register by mailing the RSVP form with payment.

ChildTrends recently released  Child Welfare Financing SFY 2014: A survey of federal, state, and local expenditures. This survey of child welfare agency expenditures provides a national perspective on child welfare financing, and also includes state-by state profiles.

The report shows that in FY 2014, Rhode Island spent a larger proportion on out-of-home placements and a smaller proportion on child protective services and adoption and legal guardianship than the national average. For more information, please see the Rhode Island profile and the full report.

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!