RI Has Highest Child Poverty Rate in New England at 21.5%

RI Has Highest Child Poverty Rate in New England at 21.5%

Rhode Island had the highest number of children living in poverty at 21.5% in 2013, according to new report released today by Rhode Island Kids Count.  

This equated to 44,923 of Rhode Island’s 208,700 children under the age of 18 living below the federal poverty threshold, which was an income of $18,769 for a family of three with two children, and $23,624 for a family of four with two children in 2013.

And in 2013, an estimated 9% -- 19,262 - all children in Rhode Island lived in extreme poverty.  Families with incomes below 50% of the federal poverty threshold are considered to be living in extreme poverty. In 2013, the extreme poverty level was $9,385 for a family of three with two children and $11,812 for a family of four with two children. 

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"Our report shows that nearly half of the kids who are living in poverty are living in extreme poverty," said Elizabeth Burke Bryant, RI Kids Count Executive Director.  "We need to look at all kids in poverty, but especially look at those in extreme poverty - those are where resources are most immediately needed."

Data at a Glance

The report released by Kids Count shows that at 21.5%, Rhode Island had the highest child poverty rate in New England in 2013, and poverty rates were highest in Central Falls (41.1%), Pawtucket (28.9%), Providence (39.7%), and Woonsocket (42.8%).

Rhode Island’s child poverty rates rose from 15.5% in 2008 to 21.5% in 2013, while the U.S. rates increased from 18.2% to 22.2% during that same time period.  Kids Count reported, "The effects of the recession, which was the longest on record since World War II, persisted well past the official end of the recession and are only just beginning to decline at the national level."

"Childhood poverty rates are tied to employment rates and good jobs," said Bryant.  "It's all about the income in the child's family.   Now that there's some [economic] recovery, there's an urgency of having great jobs with incomes to bring families above the poverty threshold."

Bryant spoke to what she heard from Governor Gina Raimondo on the campaign trail, and what she hopes to see from the news administration. 

"I think there are two things I was hearing," said Bryant.  "Raimondo has a major focus on jobs and the economy.  Every time she speaks, there's an urgency on more jobs, better jobs, and an improved economy.  That's good to hear, to have a road map out of this situation.  21% is an unacceptable number." 

"Education of our children is the second -- and adult education for parents who want to get new or better jobs," said Bryant.  "We believe these issues are on the radar screen of the Governor and General Assembly, and we're making recommendations that are practical."

Kids' Count Proposals - and Big Picture

The report issues a number of recommendations in the areas of work supports, income and financial asset building; health coverage; housing; teen pregnancy prevention and support for teen parents; child care and early education; K-12 education; and adult education and jobs.

"There have been some recent gains," noted Bryant.  "Not only did we make gains with the Race to the Top early learning challenge, we just won one of 13 preschool expansion grants in a competitive national competition -- $19 million over four years with a focus on low income children.  Rhode Island already has a solid plan as part of the funding formula to have a high quality. pre-K program, and to have an expansion plan built into the fund formula. They took notice of that when they awarded the grant -- these dollars will simply accelerate the number of children served faster.  They saw that we we had the planning to do so.  

"You wouldn't want to start a baseball game in the 5th inning -- we're starting to prioritize early child education," continued Bryant. "And we're continuing to make gains with full day kindergarten.  The General Assembly has made this a priority, with a full day K incentive to help provide one time start up costs.  

"When you see indicators going in the wrong direction, these are ones going in the right one," said Bryant.