Governor McKee Joins RIght Start To Advocate For Child Tax Credit

Today, Governor Dan McKee joined us at Littletrax Early Learning Center in East Providence to advocate for the Child Tax Credit contained in the Governor’s FY 2027 budget proposal. This new refundable tax credit will help RI parents struggling with the high costs of raising young children by providing $325 to cover essentials like diapers, […]

Fact Sheet: Fund Early Intervention 2026

RIght From The Start

H-7127 FY27 EOHHS Budget H-7586 (Cotter) & S-2785 (Valverde) Rhode Island’s Early Intervention program provides special education services to infants and toddlers who have developmental delays or disabilities. Early Intervention is required under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Researchers have found that about one-third of infants and toddlers who received high-quality Early […]

Fact Sheet: Fund Family Home Visiting 2026

RIght From The Start

H-7127 FY27 DOH & EOHHS Budgets H-7794 (Giraldo) & S-2845 (Valverde) Rhode Island’s Evidence-Based Family Home Visiting programs — Healthy Families America and Parents as Teachers — are multi-year, relationship-based interventions designed to help pregnant and parenting families with high needs navigate the challenges of raising babies and young children. These programs follow rigorous research […]

Fact Sheet: Paid Family Leave

RIght From The Start

Since 2014, Rhode Island has been a leader in providing paid family leave for families with babies, newly adopted or foster children, and seriously ill family members through the Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) program. One of only 13 state-based paid family leave programs, TCI currently provides up to eight weeks of partial (about 60%) wage […]

Fact Sheet: Generate State Revenue for Child Care, Food, and Healthcare

RIght From The Start

Tax Cuts for Ultra-High-Earners Reduce Resources for Children In the mid-2000s, Rhode Island cut about $47 million in state funding, removing thousands of families from the RI Child Care Assistance Program, and repealing a state law requiring child care rates be increased every two years to meet the federal equal access standard. During this period, […]

RIght Start 2026 Legislative & Budget Priorities

RIght From The Start

En Español Early Care and Education Priorities Help more families access affordable, quality child care by expanding family eligibility and increasing provider rates. Diaz/Vargas Remove the requirement to participate in child support enforcement from the Child Care Assistance Diaz/DiMario Expand access to child care for child care educators. Diaz/DiMario Invest in wage supplements for skilled, […]

RIght Start 2026 Fact Sheets

RIght From The Start

Fund Family Home Visiting Fund Early Intervention Early Intervention Bridge to Preschool Sustain RI’s Psychiatry Resource Network (PRN) for Moms, Babies, and Children Rhode Island Child Tax Credit Generate State Revenue for Child Care, Food, and Healthcare Paid Family Leave Full RIght Start 2026 Legislative & Budget Priorities