2. 19% (more than 42,000) of Rhode Island’s 221,694 children
under age 18 live below the federal poverty threshold
($18,123 for a family of three in 2011).
Risk factors for child poverty:
◦ Children under age six
◦ Children of single parents
◦ Children whose parents have low educational levels
◦ Children whose parents work part-time or are
unemployed
3. In Rhode Island, as well as in the United States as a
whole, children who are racial and ethnic minorities are
more likely to live in poverty.
4. In Rhode Island, more than 18,000 children live in
extreme poverty.
In 2011, the extreme poverty level is $9,062 for a
family of three with two children and $11,406 for a
family of four with two children.
5. Two-thirds of Rhode Island’s children living in poverty
live in just four cities – Central Falls, Pawtucket,
Providence and Woonsocket.
6. 93% of Rhode Island children have health insurance
coverage.
Uninsured children do not receive the medical, dental and
behavioral health care they need to remain healthy.
Uninsured children are 5 times more likely than insured
children to use the ER as a regular site of care.
Approximately 73% (12,459) of the estimated 17,053
uninsured children in Rhode Island were eligible for RIte
Care based on their family income, but were not enrolled.
7.
8. RIte Care is Rhode Island’s health insurance
program for low-income children and families.
Two-thirds of Rhode Island’s children who are
insured have health insurance through their parents’
employer-sponsored health insurance policies and
one-third through the RIte Care Program.
Rhode Island has made progress in providing access
to dental care through the RIte Smiles program.
9.
10. Child care costs represent a significant portion of
low-income families’ budgets.
11. Since 2003, there has been a 46% decrease in
child care subsidies in Rhode Island.
