How ARE the Children of Washington County?

1. How ARE the Children of Washington County? 2007 Update

2. Rhode Island Children Living Below 185% of Federal Poverty Threshold Source: URI Food, Hunger & Nutrition Partnership

3. Is There Housing for Our Children?Median Single Family Home Sale Price Data Source: Housing Works RI

4. Housing Affordability • Housing costs higher than 1/3 of a family’s income are considered unaffordable • To “afford” the lowest median selling price house in Washington County (Hopkinton) a family must earn $90,491/year Data Source: Housing Works RI

5. Is There Housing for Our Children?Average Rent 2-Bedroom Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

6. % Income Needed for Rent for Low-Income Families Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

7. Known Homeless ChildrenWashington County 2004-2006 Data Source: South County Community Action

8. Rising Food Insecurity • As families struggle to pay rising housing costs, the area’s 23 food pantries report more and more families are seeking help from them • The number of children enrolled in the free/reduced price meals has grown significantly over the past 5 years

9. Children Receiving Free/Reduced School Meals 2001, 2004 and 2006 Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

10. Food Access: 6 RI Towns Source: URI Food, Hunger & Nutrition Partnership

11. Travel Time to Major Grocery Stores by RIPTA Bus & Walking Source: URI Food, Hunger & Nutrition Partnership

12. Are Our Children Healthy? 1,305 1,165 972 464 429 371 268 276 21 Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

13. Infant Mortality Rates, 2001-2005 • Westerly Infant Mortality Rate tied with Providence for highest in state at 8.9 • Core City Infant Mortality Rate = 8.1 • RI Infant Mortality Rate = 6.4 • Washington County Infant Mortality Rate = 5.6 Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

14. # of Births with Delayed Prenatal Care2001-2005 Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

15. Westerly Delayed Prenatal Care Rates Data Source: RI Dept. of Health

16. Births to Teens, Age 15-17 2001-2005 Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

17. Births to Teens, Age 15-19 2001-2005 Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

18. Student Report of Alcohol Use2005-2006 SALT Survey N/A Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

19. Student Report of Drug Use2005-2006 SALT Survey N/A Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

20. South County Physicians’ Initiative 2006 Screening Results • ~1000 Washington County Youth Age 12-21 screened during well-child visits in 4 sites • Screening tool incorporated standardized tools (CRAFT and AUDIT) as well ?’s from other instruments regarding depression, anxiety, and eating disorders • Most frequent screening findings revealed: -Eating Disorders -Alcohol/Substance Abuse Data Source: South County Physicians’ Initiative

21. Are Our Children Safe? Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

22. Children Witnessing Domestic Violence, 2005 Children were present in 25% (174 of the 690) incidents of domestic violence in Washington County compared to 19% in the Core Cities and 20% of all incidents in RI Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

23. Who is Caring for Our Children? Children with All Parents in Workforce Data Source: US Census Bureau as cited by RI Statewide Planning

24. Quality Child Care Indicators Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

25. Child Care Subsidies • DHS issued 498 child care subsidies for income-eligible children in Washington County in Dec. 2006 • If proposed Child Care Assistance Program cuts are put into place, 119 Washington County families (with approx. 208) children will be affected Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

26. Do Families Have the Services They Need? • Still few support services for children with special needs • Families are often not linked with available community resources

27. % Income-Eligible Children <18 Participating in Food Stamps Program Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

28. % Eligible Women and Children Participating in WIC Program Data Source: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

29. PROGRESS • $50 Million Affordable Housing Bond passed by 66% RI voters in Nov. ’06 • Local towns working to implement 10% affordable housing rule • Basic Needs Network and URI Food, Hunger & Nutrition Partnership working together to address area food insecurity issues

30. PROGRESS • United Way of RI implements statewide 2-1-1 Information & Referral System • WCCC launches web-based children’s behavioral health directory available at www.washcokids.org

31. PROGRESS • Families First, a volunteer-driven mentoring program for new parents, is launched in Washington County • South County Physicians’ Initiative exploring insurance reimbursement to continue routine screening for substance abuse/mental health issues at well-child visits

32. PROGRESS • 6 area child care centers are enrolled in Strengthening Families RI, a new child care focused, evidence-based, parent support initiative: -CANE Child Development Center -KinderCare at the Pier -KinderCare South Road -LaPolice Preschool -Sunshine Child Development Center -Watch the Lamb Preschool

33. PROGRESS • WCCC launches BEST (Behavioral/ Emotional Support & Training) to provide consultation and training for area child care providers regarding children (ages 0-6) with challenging behaviors – South Shore Mental Health Center administers program • Baynet (Comprehensive Child Care Network) that includes Sunshine Child Development Center seeking to be Kids Connect (TCYC) site to care for children with special health care needs

34. PROGRESS • Routine standardized developmental screening is being implemented through Watch Me Grow RI in 14 child care centers and 3 pediatric practices in Washington County: Child Care Sites: Physician Practices: A Place to Grow South County Pediatrics CANE Child Development Center Wakefield Pediatrics Children’s Learning Express Thundermist Health Center of South County The Children’s Village First Step at Kingston Hand in Hand Jamestown Early Learning Center Joyful Learning Academy II KinderCare at the Pier KinderCare South Road Littlebrook Child Development Center North Kingstown Day Care & Preschool South County Community Action Sunshine Child Development Center

35. PROGRESS • WCCC partners with Brown Medical School to implement Collaborative Office Rounds, providing training to area physicians and mental health providers on developmental and behavioral health issues -10 Small group study sessions/year -4 Community-wide trainings /year

36. Areas of Concern • Several measures in Westerly document increasing problems for children • As the numbers of homeless children in our community climb, affordable housing remains a major issue for low to moderate income families • Food insecurity is a major issue for children as nutrition impacts their health and school performance

37. Areas of Concern • Few child care sites in the county meet the highest quality standards • Proposed child care cuts will result in . . . children being left alone or in substandard care, parents losing their jobs, and child care providers cutting their programs • Few child care resources exist for children with special needs

38. Areas of Concern • With rising health insurance costs, many employers and families opting for high deductible plans, creating economic barriers for needed health/mental health care for increasing numbers of children in Washington County • While progress has been made, significant service gaps remain for the children and families of Washington County

39. and how ARE the children?