2010 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook

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Secure Parental Employment Barriers to Secure Employment for Low-Income Families ◆ There are many barriers to employment for those leaving welfare for work. Research shows that people who return to welfare after working are much more likely to be in poor health, to have low levels of education, and to have young children than those who remain employed. 15 ◆ Poor health or a disability may make it difficult for parents to secure or sustain employment. One national study found that 13% of low-income working mothers had some type of disability and that 6% had a severe disability. The same study found that 16% of low-income working mothers had a child with a disability and that 9% had a child with a severe disability. The rates for higher income mothers were significantly lower. 16 ◆ Low-income workers are less likely to have benefits, such as paid time off and flexible work schedules, which would allow them to address the needs of sick children. In the U.S., more than half of working parents with below-poverty incomes lack paid leave. 17 Even when they work full-time, year-round, women earn less than male workers and are less likely to have paid time off. 18 ◆ Limited education can also be a barrier to sustained employment. In Rhode Island, 34% of low-income working families include a parent without a high school diploma or GED. Rhode Island ranks 44th (1st is best) in the U.S. on this measure. 19 ◆ Having access to work supports, such as health insurance, food stamp benefits/SNAP, and child care subsidies can facilitate steady employment over time. People who leave welfare and use these kinds of transitional support services are much less likely to return to welfare. 20 References 1 Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. (2009). America’s children: Key national indicators of well-being, 2009. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. 2 Wertheimer, R., Moore, K. A. & Burkhauser, M. (2008). The well-being of children in working poor and other families: 1997 and 2004. (Child Trends Research Brief Publication #2008-33). Washington, DC: Child Trends. 3 Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. Labor Market Information Division. Local area unemployment statistics: United States labor force statistics, seasonally adjusted 1978-present. Retrieved January 19, 2010 from www.dlt.ri.gov/lmi/pdf/usadj.pdf (continued on page 161) Secure Employment and Child Care ◆ Research shows a link between adequate child care availability and sustained maternal labor force participation. 21 Low-income working mothers who do not have regular child care arrangements for their preschool-age children have lower job retention than mothers with regular care arrangements. 22 ◆ Low-income parents are less likely to use paid child care than higher-income parents. When they do pay for child care, they spend a higher proportion of their income than higher-income parents. 23 ◆ In Rhode Island, child care assistance is guaranteed to all income-eligible working families. During the 2007 legislative session, eligibility for child care was rolled back from 225% to 180% of the federal poverty level ($32,958 for a family of three in 2009). 24 Rhode Island Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) ◆ Earned Income Tax Credits (EITCs) provide tax reductions and wage supplements for low- and moderate-income working families. EITCs reduce child poverty, decrease taxes and increase work incentives for families struggling to make ends meet. The federal EITC is the nation’s most effective antipoverty program for working families, lifting 6.5 million people – roughly half of whom are children – out of poverty each year. 25 In 2009, the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) expanded the federal EITC, providing an additional estimated $3.4 billion in benefits to working families. 26 ◆ State EITCs can supplement the federal EITC to further support working families. Currently, Rhode Island offers a partially-refundable state EITC equal to 25% of the federal EITC, with 15% of this being refundable (i.e., 3.75% of the federal EITC). 27 ◆ Of the 24 states offering state EITCs, 20 offer credits that are fully refundable, meaning taxpayers receive back the entire tax credit even if it exceeds their income tax liability. Rhode Island is one of two states with a partially refundable credit. 28 Fully refundable credits provide more financial benefit to working poor families with children than partially refundable credits. 29 2010 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook 33
Children Receiving Child Support DEFINITION Children receiving child support is the percentage of parents who make child support payments on time and in full as indicated in the Rhode Island Office of Child Support Services system. The percentage does not include cases in which paternity has not been established or cases in which the non-custodial parent is not under a court order because he/she cannot be located. Court orders for child support and medical support require establishment of paternity. SIGNIFICANCE Child support is a major part of the safety net for children and families. One in four U.S. children (17 million) receives child support services. 1 Child support provides a mechanism for noncustodial parents (usually fathers) to contribute to the financial and medical support of their children. Child support programs can promote family selfsufficiency and child well-being by helping custodial parents locate the non-custodial parent, establishing paternity, establishing support orders, collecting support payments and providing non-custodial parents with services, such as reviews of their support orders. 2 The receipt of child support payments can significantly improve the economic well-being of a child growing up in a family with a non-resident parent. 3 For poor families that receive child support, these payments represent almost one-half (48%) of their income. 4 Custodial parents who receive steady child support payments are less likely to receive cash assistance and more likely to find work more quickly and to maintain that employment longer than those who do not. 5 For many families, even when a child support order is in place, payments can be unreliable. Lowincome non-custodial parents often earn low wages and have high rates of joblessness, and children are unlikely to receive reliable support when their noncustodial parents do not have stable employment. 6,7 Programs that offer job training and employment services, substance abuse treatment, family counseling, and parenting education can help non-custodial parents meet their child support obligations. 8,9 Non-custodial fathers who pay regular child support are more involved with their children, providing them with emotional and financial support. 10,11 Research also shows that the receipt of regular child support payments can have a positive effect on children’s academic achievement. 12 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Non-Custodial Parents With Court Orders Who Pay Child Support On-Time and in Full, Rhode Island, 2000–2009 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Sources: Rhode Island Department of Administration, Office of Child Support Enforcement, 2000-2004. Rhode Island Department 100% of Human Services, Office of Child Support Services, 2005-2009. ◆ As 80% of December 1, 2009, there were 84,746 Rhode Island children in the Rhode 88% 84% 84% 85% 86% 87% Island 75% 78% 75% 77% Office 60% of Child Support Services system and over half (57%) of the children with a known Rhode Island residence lived in the six core cities. Fifty-one percent (51%) of 40% non-custodial parents under court order in Rhode Island were making child support payments 20% on time and in full. 13 0% 47% 45% 48% 48% 42% 44% 44% 46% 49% 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 ◆ In 2009, 2000 the Rhode 2001 Island 2002Office 2003of Child 2004 Support 2005 Services 2006 collected 2007 2008 almost 2009 $81.5 million in child support, about $1 million less than the previous year. Eighty-five percent ($69.1 million) of these funds were distributed directly to families. 14 State officials attribute declines in the amount of collections to the state’s high unemployment rate, noting that many parents who paid child support in the past are no longer able to make these payments. 15 Non-custodial parents who are unable to meet their child support obligations may be required to participate in job search and matching assistance. 16 ◆ The Office of Child Support Services is a cost-effective program. For every $1.00 Rhode Island spends, it collects $6.76. 17 Collections go towards both child support and medical support. Some funds are distributed to families and others are used to reimburse the state and federal governments for cash assistance (RI Works) and RIte Care costs. 18 ◆ During Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2009, there were 11,157 court orders for medical insurance and 8,915 orders to pay for medical coverage. A total of $4.6 million in payments (known as “cash medical”) was retained by the state to offset the cost of RIte Care, while approximately $1.2 million was disbursed directly to families to offset the cost of private coverage or other medical expenses. 19 51% 2009 34 2010 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook / Economic Well-Being
Page 1 and 2: 2010 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbo
Page 3 and 4: Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Board of Di
Page 5 and 6: Overview From: I’ll Be You and Yo
Page 7: Family and Community From: On Freed
Page 10 and 11: Table 1. Child Population, Rhode Is
Page 12 and 13: Children in Single-Parent Families
Page 14 and 15: Table 3. Grandparents Caring for Gr
Page 16 and 17: Infants Born at Highest Risk Table
Page 18 and 19: Table 5. Births by Education Level
Page 20 and 21: Racial and Ethnic Diversity Table 6
Page 22 and 23: Racial and Ethnic Disparities Econo
Page 24 and 25: Racial and Ethnic Disparities Rhode
Page 27 and 28: 600 Median Family Income DEFINITION
Page 29 and 30: Cost of Housing 1300 1200 1100 DEFI
Page 31 and 32: Homeless Children DEFINITION Homele
Page 33: Secure Parental Employment DEFINITI
Page 37 and 38: 35 Children in Poverty DEFINITION C
Page 39 and 40: Children in Poverty Financial Asset
Page 41 and 42: 2000 Children in Families Receiving
Page 43 and 44: Children in Families Receiving Cash
Page 45 and 46: Children Receiving SNAP Benefits 75
Page 47 and 48: Women and Children Participating in
Page 49 and 50: 50 Children Participating in School
Page 51: Health Make Music with Your Life by
Page 54 and 55: Children’s Health Insurance Table
Page 56 and 57: 010 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 Vaccina
Page 58 and 59: Access to Dental Care Oral Health S
Page 60 and 61: Children’s Mental Health Referenc
Page 62 and 63: Children with Special Needs Medical
Page 64 and 65: Table 17. Breastfeeding Rates, Rhod
Page 66 and 67: Women with Delayed Prenatal Care Ta
Page 68 and 69: Preterm Births Table 19. Preterm Bi
Page 70 and 71: Table 20. Low Birthweight Infants,
Page 72 and 73: Infant Mortality Table 21. Infant M
Page 74 and 75: Table 22. Lead Poisoning in Childre
Page 76 and 77: Table 23. Asthma Hospitalizations f
Page 78 and 79: Housing and Health Key Principles o
Page 80 and 81: 20 15 Childhood Obesity 10 20% 15%
Page 82 and 83: Table 24. Births to Teens, Ages 15-
Page 84 and 85:
Alcohol, Drug and Cigarette Use by
Page 87 and 88:
30 Child Deaths DEFINITION Child de
Page 89 and 90:
Youth Violence DEFINITION Youth vio
Page 91 and 92:
Disconnected Youth DEFINITION Disco
Page 93 and 94:
Juveniles Referred to Family Court
Page 95 and 96:
Juveniles at the Training School DE
Page 97 and 98:
Juveniles at the Training School Gi
Page 99 and 100:
Children of Incarcerated Parents DE
Page 101 and 102:
Children Witnessing Domestic Violen
Page 103 and 104:
Child Abuse and Neglect DEFINITION
Page 105 and 106:
Child Abuse and Neglect Indicated A
Page 107 and 108:
Children in Out-of-Home Placement D
Page 109 and 110:
Permanency for Children in DCYF Car
Page 111:
Child of the Sun by Lillian M. Fish
Page 114 and 115:
Table 31. Rhode Island Public Schoo
Page 116 and 117:
Table 32. Infants and Toddlers Enro
Page 118 and 119:
Table 33. Children Ages Birth to Th
Page 120 and 121:
Infant and Preschool Child Care Tab
Page 122 and 123:
Table 35. Measuring Quality in Earl
Page 124 and 125:
Children Enrolled in Head Start Tab
Page 126 and 127:
Full-Day Kindergarten Table 37. Chi
Page 128 and 129:
Children Receiving Child Care Subsi
Page 130 and 131:
Federal Financing After-School Care
Page 132 and 133:
English Language Learners Table 40.
Page 134 and 135:
Table 41. Kindergarten Through 12th
Page 136 and 137:
Table 42. Student Mobility and Stab
Page 138 and 139:
Fourth-Grade Reading Skills Table 4
Page 140 and 141:
Eighth-Grade Reading Skills Table 4
Page 142 and 143:
Table 45. Fourth and Eighth Grade M
Page 144 and 145:
Schools Making Insufficient Progres
Page 146 and 147:
Chronic Early Absence Table 47. Chr
Page 148 and 149:
School Attendance Table 48. Student
Page 150 and 151:
Table 49. Disciplinary Actions, Rho
Page 152 and 153:
High School Graduation Rate Table 5
Page 154 and 155:
College Preparation and Access Tabl
Page 156 and 157:
Teens Not in School and Not Working
Page 158 and 159:
Methodology The 2010 Rhode Island K
Page 160 and 161:
Methodology & References Family Inc
Page 162 and 163:
References 6 U.S. Census Bureau, Am
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References 13,15 Rhode Island Depar
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References (continued from page 63)
Page 168 and 169:
References 15 U.S. Department of He
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References RICHIST, 2009. 29 Safety
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References 16,21 Chang, H. N. & Agu
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Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Committees
Page 176 and 177:
Acknowledgements The 2010 Rhode Isl
Page 178 and 179:
Acknowledgements Michael Burk, RI D
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Notes 180 2010 Rhode Island KIDS CO
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2010 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook

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