Advocating for Rhode Island's children and families is our top priority at Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. This is our foundation, our work, our organizational heartbeat.
Since we began in 1994, we have engaged in information-based advocacy to achieve equitable public policies and programs for the improvement of Rhode Island children and families' lives.
Our mission statement is a living document. It is important to name and identify the purpose of our work, to reflect our goals and values. Over the last 27 years, we have adapted our mission statement to clarify and call out issues we are focused on, and the ways we work to improve the lives of children and families.
As such, we have updated our mission statement to better reflect our commitment to equity and eliminating unacceptable disparities by race, ethnicity, disability, zip code, immigration status, neighborhood, and income. Please see the updated version below.
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The mission of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is to improve the health, safety, education, economic well-being, and development of Rhode Island's children with a commitment to equity and the elimination of unacceptable disparities by race, ethnicity, disability, zip code, immigration status, neighborhood, and income.
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT:
- Provides independent, credible, comprehensive information on Rhode Island's children and youth.
- Serves as a clearinghouse of data across issue areas and breaks down data by race, ethnicity, income, city/town, age, gender, immigration status, disability, multilingual learners, LGBTQ+ youth, children in foster care, and children experiencing homelessness.
- Uses that information to change or influence public policies and programs to improve children's lives with a core focus on equity and children living in poverty.
- Recognizes that persistent, unacceptable disparities by race, ethnicity, and immigration status result from structural racism which must be dismantled in order to eliminate disparities, achieve equity, and provide equitable opportunities for all children and youth to succeed.
- Provides information and strategies on "what works" and promotes best practices that will turn the curve on indicators of child well-being.
- Works to advance equitable policies and programs and improve existing public policies.
- Holds systems accountable and indicates where changes should be made to improve policies and programs.
- Stimulates dialogue on children's issues and brings together individuals and organizations, including those with lived experience, to develop strategies and solutions to improve children's lives.
- Amplifies youth voice so youth can lead on policies that directly impact their lives and futures.
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