The next RIte Care Workshop, co-sponsored by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and The Poverty Institute, will take place May 25, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. This session will feature information about Medicaid/RIte Care, health reform implementation in Rhode Island, and the state budget. The Workshop is meant for direct service providers who work with children and families as well as health care advocates. View the invitation and complete the fax back RSVP form to register. Space is limited.

Oral Health Care for Rhode Island's Youngest Children

A new publication by the Oral Health Program at the Rhode Island Department of Health describes the Primary Care Physicians' Role in Promoting Children's Oral Health. 

Health care standards recommend that all children see a dentist by age one, yet half of the children in Rhode Island do not see a dentist until age 5, even when they have dental coverage. A child's primary health care provider can promote oral health, encourage parents and caregivers to schedule regular dental visits for their children and connect them with a regular, ongoing dental provider (dental home).

A new national poll commissioned by First Focus shows that American voters do not want cuts to children's programs. Seventy percent of respondents somewhat or strongly opposed the proposed federal budget cuts to Medicaid, versus 27 percent in favor. The poll also indicated strong opposition to proposed cuts to the Children's Health Insurance Program (73 percent to 23 percent). Also, 64 percent of respondents said they opposed giving state governors the flexibility to drop some children off of the rolls.

First Focus has prepared useful analyses of federal budget proposals being discussed on Capitol Hill.

Earlier this month, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT released the 2011 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook. The Factbook reports on 67 indicators of child well-being. View all factbook indicators or data for your city/town.   

Use the links below to explore selected indicators from the Health Section of the Factbook.