The Factbook provides a statistical portrait of the status of Rhode Island's children and families, incorporating the best available research and data. Information is presented for the state of Rhode Island, each city and town, and an aggregate of the four core cities (cities with the highest child poverty rates). The Factbook tracks the progress of 70 indicators, across five areas of child well-being.
While Racial and Ethnic Diversity Has Increased, Persistent, Unacceptable Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Child Outcomes Remain
- In Rhode Island, children are more likely to be identified as People of Color than adults. In 2020 in Rhode Island, 47% of children under age 18 were People of Color, compared with 28% of adults.
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Throughout the Factbook, data on racial and ethnic disparities are presented in as many indicators as possible and summarized in the Racial and Ethnic Disparities indicator. Collecting and reporting on data disaggregated by race and ethnicity is an important first step to identifying ways to eliminate them. Data on disparities — and information about the systemic racism that has resulted in barriers to opportunity — can help identify policies to dismantle racism and eliminate disparities.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Rhode Island Children
- COVID-19 took a serious toll on child and family well-being in very concrete, tangible ways. Many families have weathered unemployment and associated financial stress, food and housing insecurity; and the there is a continuing need for stable, affordable child care as parents balance work and caring for children. Significantly more children and youth are experiencing mental health challenges. Low-income families and Families of Color in marginalized communities were hit hardest both by the disease itself and the resulting economic impact, which exacerbated longstanding racial and ethnic disparities.
- Rhode Island KIDS COUNT has been focused on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have on Rhode Island children and families, particularly our most vulnerable children and families.
The workforce crisis affects access to many vital services for children and is in large part due to inadequate reimbursements/wages, including for child care and Early Intervention. If we are going to address the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on children and families, we need to make important, cost-effective investments in child care, early learning, Multilingual Learners, out-of-school time programs, health care, behavioral health and more -- and we need to ensure that we have the people and resources in place to meet children and families’ needs.
