New Policy Brief:
Children's Mental Health in Rhode Island
Mental health in childhood and adolescence is defined as reaching expected developmental, cognitive, social, and emotional milestones and the ability to use effective coping skills. Mental health influences children’s physical health as well as their behavior at home, in school, and in the community. Nationally, children and youth were experiencing mental health challenges before the pandemic, but since the onset of the pandemic the number of children experiencing anxiety and depression has increased. We are currently in a mental health crisis both nationally and in Rhode Island.

Children's Mental Health in Rhode Island discusses the data and research about children's mental health and offers recommendations for improving the behavioral health care system and supporting families. Please see our full publication, the accompanying media release, Providence Business News coverage, WPRI coverage, WJAR coverage, data presentation, and the release event recording. 

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT 
invites you to attend our 

Annual Celebration of Children's Health Luncheon
& Presentation of Covering Kids Awards
Monday, November 21, 2022 
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.  
The Providence Marriott
One Orms Street
Providence, RI


RSVP by registering online

Welcome
Elizabeth Burke Bryant
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

Welcome from Incoming Executive Director
Paige Clausius-Parks
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

Celebration of Children’s Health – Data Highlights
Kaitlyn Rabb, MPH
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

Family Perspective 

Federal and State Perspectives
and Presentation of Covering Kids Awards
Governor Dan McKee
Lt. Governor Sabina Matos
U.S. Senator Jack Reed 
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
U.S. Representative James Langevin
U.S. Representative David Cicilline 
Speaker Joseph Shekarchi (invited)
Senator Sandra Cano
Representative David Morales
Sucely Murillo
Representative Marcia Ranglin-Vassell
Paris Khoule

Closing Remarks
Elizabeth Burke Bryant

For more information, please contact 
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Communications Manager Katherine Chu. 

The annual Celebration of Children’s Health will reflect on the progress that Rhode Island has made in achieving positive health outcomes for children. The event will also celebrate the progress that has been made in covering kids in Rhode Island, as well as the strength and quality of RIte Care, Rhode Island’s health insurance program for children and families with low and moderate incomes, and will celebrate passage of Cover All Kids which restored Rhode Island’s policy of covering all eligible kids with health insurance
regardless of immigration status.
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is a statewide children’s policy organization that works to improve the health, economic well-being, safety, education, and development of Rhode Island children with a core focus on equity. | www.rikidscount.org|