Worthy Wages for Our Early Educators!
Despite their critical role in child learning and development, Rhode Island’s early educators are among the lowest paid workers in the state, making on average about $12 per hour. It’s time to ensure wages of frontline staff exposed to the virus are above poverty level, and educators that have early childhood credentials, degrees, and demonstrate […]
Infographic: Rhode Island Child Care in the Time of COVID
Quality, affordable child care was out of reach for too many Rhode Island parents who needed it before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more state and federal stimulus funding is desperately needed to ensure our child care providers can operate safely, our frontline essential worker early educators receive worthy wages, and our working families have access […]
RIght from the Start Video: Home Visiting Is A Lifeline
Parenting is hard and families can use extra help nurturing their babies and setting them up for a healthy life. Rhode Island has a strong network of voluntary, evidence-based home visiting prevention programs that help guide parents during these critical early years when a child’s brain is rapidly developing and laying the foundation for future […]
RIght from the Start Video: Worthy Wages for Rhode Island’s Early Educators
High-quality early childhood programs have effective educators who know how to work with children and families to support young children’s rapid brain development. However, many early educators earn wages that are at the bottom of the occupational ladder ($12/hour for child care teachers). Effective professionals are leaving the field for better paying jobs. It’s time […]
RIght from the Start Video Calls for “Worthy Wages” for Rhode Island’s Early Educators
Early educators are some of our children’s first teachers yet make only $12 per hour. The RIght from the Start campaign today released a new video, “WorthyWages for Rhode Island’s Early Educators,” detailing low pay for Rhode Island’s 3,000 early educators (child care, home visitors, and early intervention specialists) and the need for state policy makers to […]
Rhode Island Pediatricians’ Offices are Open and Safe
The American Academy of Pediatrics, Rhode Island Chapter wants families to know that pediatricians’ offices are open, safe, and ready to see children for well-child visits, vaccinations, and other children’s health issues. Call your pediatrician with any questions you may have, and make an appointment if needed. We look forward to seeing you. #ThinkBabies
Tell Congress To Support The Child Care Is Essential Act
Child care programs have always operated on razor-thin margins to provide quality care while keeping tuition costs as affordable as possible for parents. For many child care providers in Rhode Island and across the nation, the past three months have dealt programs a substantial financial blow as they had to close to slow the spread […]
RIght from the Start Profile: Certified Doula Latisha Michel – Empowering Expecting Moms, Addressing Health Equity Issues, and Improving Health Outcomes
Racial discrimination and implicit bias sadly result in the unequal treatment of black women in our medical system and drive health inequality. In Rhode Island, black women are 42% more likely to experience a severe complication at delivery than white women, and the infant mortality rate for black infants is three times that of white […]
RIght from the Start Video: Child Care is Essential
Safe, healthy, and high-quality child care options are essential for Rhode Island’s economic recovery and public health. That’s why it’s so critical that state leaders continue to invest in our child care programs and better wages for our early childhood educators.
Strolling Thunder RI 2020: Virtually Strolling to the State House to Advocate for Rhode Island’s Kids
Today, May 20th is Strolling Thunder Rhode Island and Child Care Day 2020! Although we can’t physically make it to the State House, that’s not stopping our army of parents and cute kids from “virtually strolling” to push for policies and legislation to ensure that ALL Rhode Island kids, regardless of zip code, race, ethnicity, […]