2008
Rhode Island
Kids Count Factbook

New at Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

The number of children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders increased 30 fold over the past 14 years, and students with ASDs make up 5% of RI children receiving special education services according to the newly released Rhode Island Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Issue Brief.

A summary version of the 2008 KIDS COUNT essay, A Road Map for Juvenile Justice, presents the six pervasive challenges raised in the essay that face our nation’s juvenile justice systems today. It highlights key facts and data, and offers promising solutions for approaches that have been proven to improve outcomes for youth, families, taxpayers and communities.

As part of Rhode Island’s State Fiscal Analysis Initiative, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT has prepared three documents to assist those interested in children’s issues to navigate the budgetary process: Rhode Island Budget Snapshots For Fiscal Year 2009, Budget Advocacy Tips, and Budget Glossary of Terms.

The report, Right Start for America’s Newborns: City and State Trends 2008, is now available online. According to the report, RI made positive progress in 4 out of 8 measures of infant well-being since 1990, and RI ranks in the top half of the nation in 7 out of 8 measures of infant well-being.