2010 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Homeless and Runaway Youth DEFINITION Homeless and runaway youth is the number of youth in Rhode Island who accessed emergency shelter services without their families or who were absent without leave (AWOL) from state care placements (including youth in child welfare and juvenile justice community placements). SIGNIFICANCE There are three primary causes of homelessness among youth – family conflict, residential instability resulting from foster care and institutional placements, and economic problems. Many homeless youth run away due to physical and sexual abuse, strained family relationships, substance abuse by a family member and/or parental neglect. 1,2 Other youth become homeless when they run away from or are discharged from the foster care or juvenile justice systems. In U.S. shelters, more than one in five homeless youth comes directly from foster care and more than one in four were in foster care in the previous year. Homeless youth with histories of foster care placements often become homeless at an earlier age and remain homeless for longer periods than their peers. 3,4 Youth who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ) are overrepresented in the homeless youth population, some of whom report being forced out of their homes by parents who disapprove of their sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBTQ homeless youth also experience greater levels of physical and sexual exploitation while living on the streets than their heterosexual peers. 5,6 It is often difficult for homeless youth to obtain the food, clothing and medical care they need. While living on the streets, homeless youth are at risk of sexual exploitation and many turn to selling drugs, shoplifting, theft or prostitution to provide for their basic needs. Consequently, homeless youth face an increased risk of arrests and are more likely to contract sexually transmitted infections. 7,8 Homeless youth are typically disconnected from community resources such as education, employment, and health care. 9 They often have difficulty enrolling in school without a parent or guardian, and they are more likely than their peers to have been suspended, expelled, repeated grades and to have dropped out of school. 10,11 Homeless youth experience higher References 1,4,7,11,22 rates of depression, post-traumatic stress National Coalition for the Homeless. (2008). disorder, substance abuse and other mental health problems than youth with stable housing. Health issues can go untreated due to lack of access to health and mental health care. In addition, homeless youth may not seek needed health care because they are likely to be asked for a permanent address, health insurance information or parental permission for treatment. 12,13 Homeless youth. (NCH fact sheet #13). Retrieved February 16, 2009 from http://www.nationalhomelesss.org 2,5 Julianelle, P. (2008). Using what we know: Supporting the education of unaccompanied homeless youth. Washington, DC: The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. 3,9,12 U.S Department of Health and Human Services. (2007). Promising strategies to end youth homelessness: Report to Congress. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Homeless Youth in Rhode Island ◆ There is one emergency shelter in Rhode Island tailored to the needs of unaccompanied and runaway homeless youth in Rhode Island. During Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2009, 14 unaccompanied youth ages 12 to 18 received Basic Center services (up to 21 days of emergency shelter) and five youth ages 17 and 18 received Transitional Living services (long-term residential and supportive services) in Rhode Island programs funded through the federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Program. 14,15,16,17 ◆ Sixty single youth ages 18 to 20 and 130 young adults ages 21 to 24 received emergency shelter services though the adult emergency shelter system in Rhode Island in 2009. 18 ◆ In 2009, the National Runaway Switchboard handled 193 crisis-related calls regarding youth ages 21 and under who were homeless, runaways, or at risk of homelessness in Rhode Island. Nationally, 50% of callers to the Switchboard in 2009 were youth and the rest were friends, family, and other adults. 19 ◆ On December 31, 2009, there were 69 youth in the care of the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families who were classified as unauthorized absences/runaways (AWOL), 31 of whom were female and 38 of whom were male. These youth were be AWOL from either foster care or juvenile justice placements. 20 ◆ There were an additional 248 youth ages 13 to 17 who received emergency shelter services with their families in Rhode Island in 2009. 21 These youth are vulnerable to being separated from their families due to shelter or child welfare policies. 22 6 Incidence and vulnerability of LGBTQ homeless youth. (n.d.). Youth Homelessness Series: Brief No. 2. Washington, DC: National Alliance to End Homelessness. 8,13 Aratani, Y. (2009). Homeless children and youth: Causes and consequences. New York, NY: National Center for Children in Poverty, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. (continued on page 167) 2010 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook 91
Juveniles Referred to Family Court DEFINITION Juveniles referred to Family Court is the percentage of youth ages 10 to 17 referred to Rhode Island Family Court for wayward or delinquent offenses. SIGNIFICANCE Risk factors for juvenile delinquency and involvement in the juvenile justice system include association with other delinquent youth, neurological and cognitive impairments, academic and learning difficulties, poor parenting, child maltreatment, and high levels of community violence. 1 The Rhode Island Family Court has jurisdiction over juvenile offenders under age 18 referred for wayward and delinquent offenses. All referrals to Family Court are from state and local law enforcement agencies, except for truancy cases, which are referred by local school departments. 2,3 During 2009 in Rhode Island, 4,825 youth (4% of Rhode Island youth between the ages of 10 and 17) were referred to Family Court for 7,829 wayward and delinquent offenses, down from 5,242 youth and 8,790 offenses in 2008. Of the offenses in 2009, 359 (5%) were violent offenses, 213 (59%) of which were committed by youth from the core cities. An additional 815 probation violations also came before the Family Court in 2009. 4,5,6 Youth in urban communities with high poverty concentrations also are more likely to be referred for wayward or delinquent offenses. In 2009 in Rhode Island, 27% of juvenile offenses referred to Family Court were committed by youth from Providence, 24% were committed by youth from the other five core cities and 49% were committed by youth from the remainder of the state. 7 Fifteen percent of juveniles referred to Rhode Island Family Court in 2009 had been referred once before and 10% had been referred at least twice before. 8 The rehabilitation of youth and the prevention of recidivism (repeat offending) with the goal of protecting public safety are key elements of juvenile justice systems. National research shows that an over-reliance on the incarceration of juveniles is not cost-effective and leads to worse public safety outcomes and higher rates of recidivism than the use of community-based alternatives to incarceration. 9 Key components of successful community-based programs to prevent juvenile recidivism are the provision of intensive family therapy and an acknowledgment of the critical role families, homes and communities play in resolving delinquency. Successful programs also work with youths’ strengths and provide a wide range of services and resources tailored to the needs of youth and their families. 10 By Age of Juvenile Juvenile Wayward/Delinquent Offenses Referred to Rhode Island Family Court, 2009 14% Ages 13 or Younger 34% Ages 14 and 15 51% Ages 16 and 17 1% Over Age 17 51% 1% 14% 34% 24% Property Crimes 19% Disorderly Conduct 19% Status Offenses* 10% Simple Assault 9% Alcohol and Drug Offenses By Type of Offense By Race and Ethnicity of Juvenile 44% White 18% Black 12% Hispanic 2% Asian 24% Other/Unknown 5% Traffic Offenses 5% Violent Crimes 3% Weapons Offenses 6% Other** n = 7,829 *Status offenses are age-related acts that would not be punishable if the offender were an adult, such as truancy and disobedient conduct. **Other includes offenses such as conspiracy, crank/obscene phone calls and computer crimes. Probation violations, contempt of court and other violations of court orders are not included in the offenses above. ◆ In 2009, 27% of juveniles referred to the Rhode Island Family Court were female and 73% were male. Source: Rhode Island Family Court, 2009 Juvenile Offense Report. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding. 2% n=7,829 offenses 12% 24% 18% 44% 92 2010 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook / Safety
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 and 34:
Secure Parental Employment DEFINITI
Page 35 and 36:
Children Receiving Child Support DE
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: Disconnected Youth DEFINITION Disco
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
Page 164 and 165:
References 13,15 Rhode Island Depar
Page 166 and 167:
References (continued from page 63)
Page 168 and 169:
References 15 U.S. Department of He
Page 170 and 171:
References RICHIST, 2009. 29 Safety
Page 172 and 173:
References 16,21 Chang, H. N. & Agu
Page 174 and 175:
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Committees
Page 176 and 177:
Acknowledgements The 2010 Rhode Isl
Page 178 and 179:
Acknowledgements Michael Burk, RI D
Page 180:
Notes 180 2010 Rhode Island KIDS CO
show all

2010 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?