Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

Bringing together data and community
to advocate for equitable policies

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About Us

Mission and Vision

  • Our mission: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT advances equitable policies that improve the lives of all Rhode Island children and eliminate disparities through the power of data, advocacy, and civic action.
  • Our vision: Every child in Rhode Island—regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, zip code, immigration status, neighborhood, or income—will thrive in a community where they are healthy, safe, educated, and economically secure.

Our values

  • Equity: We work to eliminate systemic disparities so that all children, regardless of background, have the opportunity to thrive.
  • Integrity: We uphold the highest standards of honesty, ethics, and nonpartisanship in our data, advocacy, and relationships.
  • Credibility: We produce and share accurate, evidence-based information that is trusted by policymakers and partners to guide decisions that impact children’s lives.
  • Collaboration: We believe collective action creates the greatest impact, and we engage in powerful coalitions across sectors and communities.
  • Children-Centered: We center the voices, needs, and well-being of children, youth, and families as partners in decision-making.
  • Hope: We approach our mission with optimism and persistence, believing in the potential for transformative change.

What we do

  • Rhode Island KIDS COUNT engages in information-based advocacy to achieve equitable public policies and programs for the improvement of children’s lives.
  • Rhode Island KIDS COUNT regularly releases data- and research-driven publications, to help keep policymakers, community members, and advocates up-to-date on issues affecting Rhode Island children & families.
  • Through the generous support of our funders and community members, the data we gather and publications we release are always free online to the public.

Service

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is a proud member of many community groups and coalitions. Our employees take on leadership roles, serve on boards, and are members of advisory committees.

  • We proudly coordinate: Anti-Racist Education Policy Collaborative, RIght from the Start, and Raising RI.
  • We are proud members of: Coalition for a Multilingual Rhode Island, Equity Impact Campaign, Healthy Meals for All Coalition, HomesRI, Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty, Immigrant Coalition of Rhode Island, LetRIVote, Protect Our Healthcare Coalition, Revenue for Rhode Islanders, Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence, Rhode Island Coalition for Payday Lending Reform, RI Coalition for Children Youth and Families, and RI Paid Leave Coalition.
  • As well as the following national organizations: National Youth Justice Network, The Partnership for America’s Children, SPARC Network (State Policy Advocacy + Reform Center), and Thrive From the Start.
  • Our employees have leadership roles with: Advance RI-CTR Community Advisory Action Board, Advisory Council of the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute, Barrington Housing Board of Trustees, Central Falls Juvenile Hearing Board, East Side/Mt. Hope YMCA, New England Children’s Behavioral Health Network, the Partnership for America’s Children, Rhode Island Afterschool Network, RI PBS Education Advisory Committee, and the United Way of Rhode Island.

Awards & fellowships

  • Rhode Island KIDS COUNT: Intersectionality Award – presented by ARISE, 2024
  • Rhode Island KIDS COUNT: Policy and Research Partner for Progress Award – presented by Economic Progress Institute, 2024
  • Paige Parks is currently a fellow with the Institute for Nonprofit Practice Black Leadership Institute
  • Kelsey Bala is currently fellow in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s first cohort of the Rising Leaders for Results Fellowship
  • Kelsey Bala: 2024 Community and Justice Award – presented by Rhode Island for Community and Justice
  • Paige Parks: YWCA of Rhode Island Women of Achievement Award
  • Paige Parks: Providence Business News 40 Under 40 Award, 2021
  • Leanne Barrett: Cherish the Child Advocacy Award – presented by Prevent Child Abuse Rhode Island, Dec 2020
  • Stephanie Geller: Friends of the Network Award – presented by Housing Network of RI, 2019
  • Katherine Linwood: Elizabeth H. Roberts Oral Health Champion Award, 2019
  • Stephanie Geller: Rhode Island State Champion – presented by New England Secondary School Consortium, 2017
  • Leanne Barrett: Special Friend of Rhode Island’s Children Award – presented by Rhode Island Association for the Education of Young Children, Oct 2011

Our history

Founded in 1994, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is an outgrowth and expansion of the Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Project, initiated by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Rhode Island Foundation. Rhode Island KIDS COUNT was a program of the Rhode Island Foundation from 1994 to 1997, and became an independent nonprofit organization in 1997. The Rhode Island Foundation and the United Way of Rhode Island provide generous funding support to Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and work in close partnership with the organization on a wide variety of issues. Additional funding support is provided by several local and national foundations, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.