Job Posting: Policy Analyst, Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT thanks Jessy Donaldson for 4 years of service first as Deputy Director and then as Research Analyst. During her time with us, she focused attention on racial and ethnic disparities in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, advocated for comprehensive, personalized services for older youth aging out of the child welfare system, and worked to ensure that we had a complete count during the 2020 Census. Jessy has taken a new position as Director of Health Services for Head Start at the East Bay Community Action Program.
 
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT will be hiring a Policy Analyst in the areas of child welfare and juvenile justice. To apply: Please see job posting here. The deadline for applications is August 13, 2021.
New Obesity Policy Briefs
On June 25th, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT released our newest Policy Briefs - Childhood Overweight and Obesity: Updated Data for Rhode Island and Trends in Rhode Island.

Data from these Policy Briefs show that in Rhode Island from 2016-2019, there was a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of children who were overweight or obese in all age groups, from 35% of children ages 2 to 17 overweight or obese in 2016 to 31% in 2019. However, 31% is still concerning, and we continue to see troubling racial and ethnic disparities. The impact of COVID-19 may exacerbate these disparities.

Please see the media release, presentation, recording of the release event; as well as coverage in What's Up Newport and NBC 10. 
School Climate Policy Roundtable
On June 7th, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT held a policy roundtable to discuss how to build a comprehensive and coherent statewide approach for improving school climate here in Rhode Island. This event featured the Aspen Institute Education & Society Program and ExcelinEd who recently released A Policymakers School Climate Playbook: Creating Opportunities for Meaningful Student Engagement. This report provides a clear set of recommendations to guide policymakers in building a comprehensive and coherent statewide approach for improving school climate. These strategies will help to increase equity so all students have access to a healthy and positive school climate. Please see the event recording here! 
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT | www.rikidscount.org