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In the Aftermath of Newtown - Data to Inform Urgent Policy Decisions |
As state and federal policymakers develop policy responses to the tragic events in Connecticut and work toward preventing future gun deaths among children and youth, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT offers the following data and policy resources on the two key policy issues of gun violence and mental health:
Gun Violence According to the Children's Defense Fund, 2,694 children and teens were killed by gunfire in the U.S. in 2010 - 1,773 of them were victims of homicide and 67 of these were elementary school-age children. If those children and teens were still alive, they would fill 108 classrooms of 25 each. For additional information, please see the following indicators from the 2012 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook: Teen Deaths Youth Violence
Access to Mental Health Services One in five children ages six to 17 in Rhode Island has a diagnosable mental or addictive disorder and one in ten has significant functional impairment. The vast majority of children and youth who need mental health treatment do not receive it. Read the recent Op-Ed in the Providence Journal by the Mental Health Association of Rhode Island about their report that details the difficulties that Rhode Island youth and their families face in accessing appropriate and timely mental health services. For additional information, please see the following indicator from the 2012 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook: Children's Mental Health |
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Youth Perspectives on College Access and Success
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Rhode Island KIDS COUNT has released a special report - Improving College Access and Success: Providence Youth Perspectives -summarizing the results of a series of focus groups conducted with Providence high school students to determine how schools and community agencies can best help students with the college application process.
See the presentation and photo gallery from the release event, which included a discussion with Providence youth, college access programs, school officials, and city leaders, who provided their perspectives on how to help more students enroll in and succeed in college. |
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Youth and Work - New National Report |
The Annie E. Casey Foundation has released a new policy report about Youth and Work: Restoring Teen and Young Adult Connections to Opportunity.
In 2011, 20,000 (15%) of Rhode Island teens and young adults ages 16 to 24 were not in school and not working.
The report includes recommendations on what Rhode Island can do to make sure young people have the skills needed to thrive. The report received coverage in the Providence Business News and on WRNI's The Bottom Line. |
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Data in Your Backyard Presentations
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Rhode Island KIDS COUNT held two Data in Your Backyard presentations in December. The West Warwick Data in Your Backyard event (December 10) was sponsored in partnership with Thundermist Health Center and the Central Falls Data in Your Backyard event (December 17) was sponsored in collaboration with the Central Falls School Department.
The presentations, press releases, and photo galleries from both events can be found at www.rikidscount.org
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