Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Executive Director Paige Parks

Send us Fan Mail This episode dives into Rhode Island's latest child well-being report, revealing critical insights into the state's progress and ongoing challenges. Paige Parks discusses with Rhode Island Kids Count Executive Director, Paige Parks, about systemic issues affecting children—covering poverty, education gaps, healthcare access, and immigrant family experiences. In this episode: The significance of data-driven advocacy for children's issues Over 15% of Rhode Island children live in poverty, amidst soaring housing costs Trends in education: declining absenteeism but persistent challenges in early childhood access Impact of federal policy changes on health insurance and social services The rising number of children in immigrant families—nearly 30%—and the importance of multilingual education programs How COVID-19 and inflation are magnifying disparities and stressors on families The need for more investments in childcare, social safety nets, and community-based support The threat and potential rollback of critical federal and state programs due to policy shifts Strategies for advocacy and coalition-building at the state level Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Rhode Island Kids Count and their mission 02:06 - The importance of putting children at the top of the policy agenda 03:43 - Key findings from the 2026 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook 04:10 - Child poverty and housing affordability crisis in Rhode Island 05:13 - Ripple effects of unstable housing on children’s well-being 06:42 - The true cost of living in Rhode Island—almost 100k needed to stay afloat 07:33 - Education insights: progress vs. persistent gaps in early childhood and K-12 08:46 - Supporting the whole child: addressing food insecurity and school readiness 09:57 - Chronic absenteeism: causes, challenges, and the importance of data 11:20 - Health coverage: progress, disparities, and threats from federal policy changes 13:20 - Exposure to violence, domestic situations, and their impact on children 14:06 - The state of maternal and infant health care; disparities by race 15:31 - The vulnerability of immigrant children and families amid federal immigration policies 16:48 - The importance of local data amid federal funding cuts 18:41 - Strategies for advocacy and policy impact amidst political changes 20:15 - Federal data reductions: implications for statewide policy and program planning 22:54 - The rising needs of immigrant families for services like dual-language education and workforce support 24:11 - Addressing data gaps and community engagement for better child outcomes 25:37 - The recent legislative session and how coalitions influence policy for children 27:33 - Upcoming challenges: the impact of federal policies like HR 1 on families 29:16 - The importance of economic investments to sustain child benefit programs Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube