1. Repairing the Race Gap: Racial and Ethnic Disparities Among RI Children and Youth Presentation for the Interfaith Conference Rhode Island College May 11, 2016 1

2. What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rhode Island’s children? 2

3. 3 Rhode Island’s Changing Population

4. What racial and ethnic economic disparities exist? 4

5. 5

7. 7 Gaps Start Early

8. 8

10. More likely to be uninsured More likely to have elevated blood lead levels due to living in older, poorly maintained housing More likely to visit an emergency room or be hospitalized due to asthma due to unhealthy housing conditions and lack of access to health care More likely to give birth as a teen 10 Other Health Factors

11. Lead exposure, even at low levels, is associated with increased risk for behavioral problems, decreased cognitive abilities, and lower academic performance Asthma is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism Only 38% of mothers who give birth before age 18 have a high school diploma 11 Health Factors Increase Gaps

12. Education Factors 12

13. 13 Students who do not read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school than their peers.

16. Disparities in School Discipline In Rhode Island, Black and Hispanic children are more likely to be suspended than their White peers. Being suspended even once in 9 th grade is associated with a twofold increase in the likelihood of dropping out.

17. Connections with the Child Welfare and Justice Systems 17

18. 18 Connections with the Child Welfare and Justice Systems

19. How can we repair the gap? How can we remove barriers to economic success and create more opportunity? – Improvements in health access – Improvements in education – Fair treatment at school and in the community 19

20. Rhode Island KIDS COUNT One Union Station Providence, RI 02903 (401) 351-9400 www.rikidscount.org rikids@rikidscount.org Find us on Facebook & Twitter! Rhode Island KIDS COUNT @RIKidsCount