RIght from the Start is sharing the following information to help educate candidates for elected office about policy and budget priorities that will help families with young children in Rhode Island. We are providing the same information to all candidates for the General Assembly. We are not able to endorse any candidates, but hope you find this information helpful.
If you have any questions about our priorities, please email Leanne Barrett (lbarrett@rikidscount.org) and someone from our Steering Committee will get back to you.
Thank you for running. Families with young children need strong champions in elected office!
State Policy and Budget Priorities to Ensure All RI Kids & Families Can Thrive
RIght from the Start is a legislative and budget campaign led by eight organizations to advance equitable state policies for babies, young children, and families in Rhode Island. While we have made significant progress recently, more policy reforms and investments are needed to ensure all young children, regardless of race, ethnicity, family income, or zip code get off to the right start in life!
These policies and investments include:
- Raising Revenue to Help Families Pay for Reliable, Quality Child Care and Strengthening High-Quality Public Preschool Options (both RI Pre-K and Head Start) while Responding to the Infant and Toddler Child Care Crisis
- Stabilizing and Expanding Access to Affordable, Quality Child Care
- Ensuring Young Children have Access to Pediatric Care
- Fixing Both Early Childhood and Special Education Systems
- Investing in Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Mental Health
- Funding Family Home Visiting
- Improving Paid Family Leave
- Improving the Economic Security of Families with Young Children
Click here to read our detailed RIght from the Start Candidate Guide.
