This document summarizes findings from the 2009 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook regarding child well-being in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It highlights that Pawtucket has a diverse child population, high rates of child poverty, lower rates of parental education attainment compared to the state average, and worse outcomes for children on several health and education indicators. The presentation was given by Stephanie Geller of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT to provide data to help address challenges facing children in Pawtucket.

1. Pawtucket Data In Your BackyardFindings from the 2009 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT FactbookPresented by Stephanie Geller Rhode Island KIDS COUNTJune 25, 2009Pawtucket, Rhode Island

2. Special ThanksSpecial thanks toPawtucket School DepartmentChild Opportunity Zonefor hosting today’s presentation.

3. 2009 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT FactbookThe 2009 Factbook is the 15th annual publication.The 2009 Factbook contains 63 indicators of child well-being, Including the new indicator, Housing and Health. Most indicators include city and town level information.

4. Family and Community

5. Pawtucket Child Populationby Race & Ethnicity 2000 Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000. According to the American Community Survey, in 2007 there were 17,366 children living in Pawtucket.

6. Pawtucket’s child population is ethnically diverse.Children in Single-Parent FamiliesSource: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000.In 2000, 42% of children in Pawtucket (6,988 children) lived in single-parent families, a significantly higher percentage than the state average (30%).

7. In 2007, 78% of all poor children in Rhode Island lived in a single-parent family. Children in single-parent families were 7 times more likely to live in poverty than children in two-parent families. Mother’s Education Level Births by Mother’s Education Level,2003-2007Source: Rhode Island Department of Health, Division of Family Health, Maternal and Child Health Database, 2002-2006.Research shows strong links between parental education levels and a child’s school readiness, health, and the level of education the child is likely to achieve.

8. In Pawtucket, 21% of new mothers had less than a high school diploma, significantly higher than the state average of 15%. The proportion of mothers with a Bachelor’s degree or higher was smaller in Pawtucket (23%) than in the state as a whole (36%). Infants Born at Highest RiskChild:9 times more likely to grow up in poverty

9. More likely to suffer from abuse or neglect

10. Less likely to be ready for school at kindergarten entry

11. Less likely to perform well in school

12. Less likely to complete high schoolMother:Under Age 20

13. Unmarried

14. Without High School Degree

15. In Pawtucket in 2008, 75 (7%) babies were born at highest risk.Infants Born at Highest RiskCore Cities and Rhode Island, 2008Source: Rhode Island Department of Health, KIDSNET Database, 2008

16. Economic Well-BeingEconomic Well-Being

17. Child Poverty in Rhode Island, 2004-2007Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, American Community Survey, 2004-2007.In 2007, 17.5% (40,468) of Rhode Island’s 231,579 children under age 18 lived below the federal poverty threshold.

18. Of the 40,468 children living in poverty, 44% lived in extreme poverty.

19. In total, an estimated 7.6% (17,697) of all children in Rhode Island lived in extreme poverty.Children in PovertySource: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000. According to the American Community Survey, Pawtucket’s child poverty rate has increased in recent years. Between 2005 and 2007, 30% of Pawtucket’s children (5,168) lived in families with incomes below the poverty level.Cost of RentSource: Rhode Island Housing Rent Survey, Annual Rent Surveys, 1999-2008.Housing is considered affordable if it consumes 30% or less of a family’s household income.

20. To afford the average rent of $1,232 in Rhode Island without a cost burden, a worker would need to earn $23.69 per hour and work 40 hours a week 52 weeks a year. This is almost 3 times the state’s minimum wage of $7.40 per hour.

21. In 2008, the average cost of rent in Pawtucket was $1,068. A family of three living at the poverty level in Pawtucket would have to devote 73% of its household income to rent. Families Receiving Cash AssistanceBetween 1996 and 2008, there was a 54% decline in the Rhode Island cash assistance caseload.

22. In December 2008, 8% (1,413) of Pawtucket children were receiving cash assistance, yet 30% of children in Pawtucket live in poverty.

23. Almost 7 out of 10 (69%) RI Works beneficiaries are children under the age of 18. Almost half (49%) of children enrolled in RI Works are under the age of six.Children Receiving Food Stamps/SNAP Benefits % ofIncome-Eligible Children Under Age 18 Receiving Food StampsSource: Rhode Island Department of Human Services, 2007In October 2008, 77% of Pawtucket children who were eligible for food stamps participated in the program, the same participation rate as the state as a whole.

24. Research shows that hunger and lack of regular access to sufficient food are linked to serious health, psychological, emotional and academic problems in children and can impede their healthy growth and development. School Breakfast Program% ofLow-Income Children Participating in School Breakfast, 2008Source: Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2008Pawtucket has a Universal School Breakfast Program which offers free breakfast to all children regardless of income.

25. In October 2008, an average of 1,758 (26%) low-income children in Pawtucket participated in the Universal School Breakfast Program each day out of 6,691 who were eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch. Pawtucket’s school breakfast participation rate is lower than all of the other core cities.

26. Students who eat breakfast have significantly higher math and reading scores, fewer absences, improved attentiveness and lower incidences of social and behavioralproblems.HealthHealth

27. Children without Health Insurance, Rhode Island, 1993-2007 In Rhode Island between 2005 and 2007, 6.9% of children under age 18 were uninsured, lower than the national rate of 11.2%. Rhode Island ranks 11th best in the country for lowest percentage of children uninsured.

28. In Rhode Island, the percentage of uninsured children has increased in recent years, largely due to the decline in employer sponsored health insurance.Children Receiving Medical AssistanceChildren under age 19 Receiving Medical Assistance, Pawtucket, 1997-2008As of December 2008, 8,881 children living in Pawtucket received Medical Assistance. Of these, 8,042 were enrolled in RIte Care. An additional 839 children received medical assistance through SSI, the adoption subsidy, foster care or the Katie Beckett provision. Source: Rhode Island Department of Human Services, 1997-2008

29. Infant Health Outcomes, 2003-2007 Early prenatal care is important to identify and treat health problems and influence health behaviors that can compromise fetal development, infant health and maternal health.

30. In recent years, the percentage of Rhode Island mothers receiving delayed prenatal care has increased from 9.1% in 2000-2004 to 12.1% in 2003-2007. During that same time period, the percentage of Pawtucket mothers receiving delayed prenatal care rate increased from 12.5% to 14.7%. Children with Elevated Blood Lead LevelsChildren with a History of Screening Positive for Elevated Blood Lead Levels  10 mcg/dL, 1999-2010Source: Rhode Island Department of Health. Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Children entering kindergarten between 1998-2010.Despite declines in lead poisoning rates, kindergarten children living in core cities are more likely to have a history of elevated blood lead levels (5.2%) than those in the remainder of the state (1.3%).

31. In the most recent year of testing, 1,082 Pawtucket children were screened for lead. Of these, 58 (5.4%) screened positive and 33 (3.0%) were confirmed positive for lead levels  10mcg/dL.Housing and HealthSource: Population Reference Bureau analysis of the 2005-2007 American Community Survey PUMS Data* Older housing is defined as housing built before 1980.In both Rhode Island and the nation as a whole, children in low-income families are more likely to live in older housing than children in general.

32. Low-income families are more likely to lack the resources required to maintain, repair or improve their homes in ways that reduce residential health hazards, such as lead paint, unsafe stairs, leaks and cracks that may allow moisture and pests to enter the home.

33. Between 2005 and 2007, 87% of low-income children in Rhode Island lived in older housing, the highest percentage in any state.Births to TeensBirths Rate per 1,000 girls ages 15-19Source: Rhode Island Department of Health, 2003-2007The teen birth rate per 1,000 teen girls ages 15-19 is significantly higher in Pawtucket (56.4) than in the state as a whole (30.4).

34. In Pawtucket, the teen birth rate is much higher for older teens than for younger teens. Between 2003 and 2007, there were 92.3 teen births per 1,000 teens ages 18-19 versus 32.6 teen births per 1,000 younger teens ages 15-17.

35. Between 2003 and 2007 in Rhode Island, almost one in five teen births (18%) were to teens who were already mothers (repeat birth). SafetySafety

36. Homeless Children & YouthSource: Rhode Island Emergency Shelter Information Project, Annual Reports 1999-2008 In 2008, 1,506 children under age 13 and 264 youth ages 13-17 entered the Rhode Island Emergency Shelter system accompanied by a parent or another adult.