The 2018 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook will be released at our 24th Annual Factbook Breakfast on Monday, April 9, 2018 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick. 

RSVPs are required, and we request that you respond by April 2, 2018. Please click here to register for the event. For more information, please contact Ms. Galarza at 401-351-9400, ext. 10 or wgalarza@rikidscount.org.  

Our keynote speaker is Rafael López, who is a Managing Director for Accenture's Health & Public Service practice in North America. His responsibilities include partnering with decision makers in government, education and nonprofit organization clients to solve some of the toughest challenges facing children, families and communities. 

Previously, he served as the Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a role to which he was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate.  He also served as Policy Advisor at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and with the Domestic Policy Council.  Prior to his service at the White House, López was an Associate Director at the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

At Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, we're thrilled to be celebrating 24 years of child advocacy, and hope that you can join us!

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT was one of six child advocacy organizations in the country that was selected by ZERO TO THREE to lead Rhode Island's 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. Key campaign priorities include: quality, affordable child care; time for parents to bond with their babies; healthy emotional development; and strong physical health and nutrition. 

Among the initial activities of the Think Babies campaign will be Rhode Island's 'Strolling Thunder' on May 16, 2018, which will bring babies and their families from across the state to the State House for an advocacy event.  

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT looks forward to working with Rhode Island's strong network of early childhood advocates on the Think Babies campaign, and encourages everyone to become part of the team that is fighting for our future. Visit thinkbabies.org today to learn more about Think Babies and to find out how to take action. 

Information on Think Babies Rhode Island activities can be found at www.rikidscount.org and in the Think Babies Rhode Island media release.

In anticipation of the 2020 Census, the National Urban League, the Urban League of Rhode Island, and local partners and collaborators are hosting a Census Solutions Workshop. This is an interactive solutions-based event to identify strategies to increase participation in the 2020 Census. This daylong event will be held on Friday, April 13, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the offices of the Urban League of Rhode Island (246 Prairie Ave., Providence, RI 02905). RSVPs are required.

This workshop will provide a creative and collaborative problem solving space that brings diverse members of the community together to address key challenges and opportunities associated with obtaining a complete and accurate count, especially in key focus areas like counting underrepresented communities, the undercount of young children, the digital divide, and reaching low internet connectivity areas. 

Please join the National Urban League and the Urban League of Rhode Island and co-sponsors: The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, Children's Leadership Council, Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services, Rhode Island Library Association and representatives from the U.S. Census Bureau, as we bring together communities to develop solutions for an accurate 2020 Census count!

For more information and to RSVP, please visit the event page here. Please email Ricensus2018@nul.org for more information.

Creating Positive Futures: 

Resilience Starts in Infancy  

Thursday, May 3, 2018

4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Featuring Arnold Sameroff, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Psychology 

Research Professor Emeritus, Center for Human Growth and Development University of Michigan 

Salomon 001 - College Green 

Brown University Providence, Rhode Island 

Free and Open to the Public 

Invitation and registration information to follow.  

Arnold Sameroff is a developmental psychologist and one of the founders of the field of developmental psychopathology. His research concerns the multiple factors that contribute to mental health and illness, with a particular emphasis on resilience in the face of adversity. His "transactional model" has become central to understanding the interplay of nature and nurture in explaining the development of positive and negative outcomes for children. His presentation will address clinical and policy opportunities to promote the mental health of children and youth.  

Please contact Katherine Chu with questions.

The annual Lipsitt-Duchin Lecture in Child and Youth Behavior and Development is co-sponsored by Brown University and Rhode Island KIDS COUNT.

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!