Families in need of insurance in 2016 have until January 31 to apply for commercial coverage through HealthSource RI. Those who already have commercial insurance through HealthSource RI this year should review their 2016 assigned plan carefully and decide whether they want to stay in this plan or choose a different plan. Families are encouraged to pay for their plan by January 23 to ensure they have coverage beginning on February 1. If you enroll between January 24 and January 31 (and pay by February 23), coverage will start on March 1.

For more information on how to apply, please see the Rhode Island Health Coverage Project's bilingual 'Get Covered Stay Covered' flyer (English and Spanish). This flyer includes a calendar of in-person enrollment events being held throughout the state. Please forward and share these resources widely. For social media posts, please visit Rhode Island KIDS COUNT's Facebook and Twitter pages - sharing and retweeting is encouraged!

Note re: RIte Care/Medicaid: If you are eligible for Medicaid, you can enroll at any time (not just during this Open Enrollment period). Renewal is on a rolling basis. Please watch your mail for renewal information, which will be sent 2 months before your renewal date.

Join the Rhode Island Health Coverage Project for their upcoming webinar, "Taxes and the Affordable Care Act: A Webinar for Community Helpers." 

The webinar is free and will be held on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Register today!

The webinar will cover: 

• Health Insurance Coverage 
• Tax Forms: What to Watch For 
• Requirement to Have Health Insurance Coverage: Penalty and Exemptions 
• Tax Filing Process 
• Help for Consumers

In Rhode Island and in the U.S., young children under age 6 are more likely to experience maltreatment (neglect or abuse) than older children. Safe, stable, nurturing relationships in the first years of life are fundamental for healthy brain development. Child maltreatment disrupts the development of the brain and biological systems, resulting in short-term harm and long-term negative outcomes. 

Young Children in the Child Welfare System provides an overview of data on child maltreatment, how the child welfare system responds to abuse and neglect, the role of kinship and non-kinship foster homes, and includes recommendations for keeping children safe and meeting their developmental needs. 

Kinship care is the full-time care, nurturing, and protection provided to a child by a relative or family friend. Most children living with kin are in informal arrangements established within families. 

Children can also be placed with kin by state child welfare agencies when they cannot safely live with their parent(s). For children removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect, placement in kinship foster homes is often the best option for ensuring that they are able to maintain familial and community connections and minimize the trauma of being separated from parents. 

To learn more about kinship care in Rhode Island, please see our Child Welfare Fact Sheet: Focus on Kinship Care.

• RIte Smiles and RIte Care - Health benefits & dental care for Rhode Island children
• RIte Smiles y RIte Care - Beneficios a la salud y atención dental para los niños de Rhode Island
• In the Community: Oral Health Care Kits
• En la comunidad: Juegos para la atención de la salud oral

In addition, free educational resources for parents & families, health care providers, dental providers, and community organizations are available. To see all free campaign materials - and to order! - please click here.

Are you interested in specific areas of child well-being? Rhode Island KIDS COUNT publishes E-Newsletters on specific areas related to child well-being: 

• Children's Health and Health Insurance 
• Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice 
• Early Childhood/Early Learning 
• Rhode Island KIDS COUNT also publishes a general interest E-Newsletter. 

Please click here to start receiving these updates today!