Stephanie Geller

What is a government shutdown and how might it affect RI’s children and families? See in our latest e-news:

myemail.constantcontact.com/Shutdown-and...

$186 billion in SNAP cuts mean 18 million kids could lose school meals. Educators warn these cuts will drive up meal debt and leave more children hungry, distracted, and struggling to learn. Read the story: https://bit.ly/4nASUQE

The problem with RFK Jr.’s MAHA report - The Boston Globe It falls short in its honesty, its innovation, and the evidence.

Opinion | RFK Jr.'s MAHA report won’t make children healthy -- The report ignores gun violence and auto fatalities, the two leading causes of childhood mortality, and does not address food security or the value of lifesaving vaccines www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/12/o...

ICYMI here’s @rikidscount.bsky.social annual legislative wrap-up highlighting victories for kids and areas that we hope we can work together to make progress on in the future.

Rhode Island is in for a ‘world of hurt’ as federal cuts rescind long federal-state safety-net partnership - The Boston Globe Without leadership and swift, coordinated action, the state risks being overwhelmed by both the scale of the financial burden, and the bureaucratic complexity imposed, writes state Senate Finance Chai...

We at @rikidscount.bsky.social are also deeply concerned about how these federal budget cuts will affect kids & families as well as RI's budget & economic outlook -- we'll be serving on the EOHHS advisory comm to examine the impact & develop recs for action www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/31/m...

R.I., Mass., among states suing Trump administration over immigration status-based restrictions to safety net programs - The Boston Globe Twenty states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit in federal court in Rhode Island to stop the Trump administration from restricting access to health, education, and social service programs f...

RI among states suing Trump administration over immigration status-based restrictions to safety net programs @peterfneronha.bsky.social @headstart.bsky.social @rifoodbank.bsky.social www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/21/m...

‘Significant cuts’ possible after Trump administration withholds $29 million from R.I. education - The Boston Globe The federal funding, which was expected on July 1, impacts thousands of students who are learning English, attend after-school programs, or are adult learners.

$29M in federal funds being withheld from RI students, affecting MLLs, afterschool programs, & more @multilingualri.bsky.social @afterschool4all.bsky.social www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/09/m...

Attention Philanthropy: The Front Line in the Fight for Children and Families Just Moved to the States  - Alliance for Early Success As state policymakers work to address the huge budget shortfalls created by the federal government’s enactment of H.R. 1, state early childhood policy advocates are the next line of defense against cu...

“To my colleagues who invest critical philanthropic dollars to make the biggest impact for young children and their families..state advocates are now both our front lines and our firewall. And they need reinforcements.” @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social
earlysuccess.org/call-for-sta...

H.R. 1 Will Make America’s Kids Hungrier, Less Healthy, and Deeper in Poverty A Moral Gut-Check

H.R. 1 Will Make America’s Kids Hungrier, Less Healthy, and Deeper in Poverty and Shifting SNAP Costs to States Will Strain Schools, Health Programs, and Local Budgets open.substack.com/pub/bruceles...

When students graduate from high school on time, they’re more likely to go to college, pursue job training and make healthier choices. They also earn higher incomes than their peers who don’t graduate from high school on time. Download the 2025 KIDS COUNT® Data Book to learn more. bit.ly/2025KCDB-BS

Over the next week or two, we’ll be celebrating victories for kids & families and thanking those who helped make them happen and next month, we’ll release our annual Legislative Wrap Up, so keep your eyes peeled👀
@rikidscount.bsky.social

Rhode Island can do more. Lawmakers must strengthen support for needy families. - The Boston Globe Rhode Island has the resources and flexibility to design a more just and effective Rhode Island Works program, two legislators write

Commentary: RI lawmakers must strengthen support for needy families by making needed improvements to RI Works Program www.bostonglobe.com/2025/06/18/m... @rihouseofreps.bsky.social @risenate.bsky.social

Opinion | When Rights Erode for Some of Us, Something Corrodes in All of Us

When Rights Erode for Some of Us, Something Corrodes in All of Us -- Great piece by Dara Lind from the @immcouncil.org www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/o...

“The federal budget reconciliation bill, which I am calling the Big, Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Bill and has now passed the House, includes the largest proposed cuts to both Medicaid and SNAP in American history.”

“These aren’t partisan issues. Across political lines, Americans agree that children should not go without health care, food, education, child care, housing..” These programs are vital to protecting our children’s and our nation’s future.

RI’s legislative session is in its final weeks. Now is the time to contact your legislators and tell them what issues you care about, whether it’s child care, mental health services for youth, or a fair tax system
@rihouseofreps.bsky.social @risenate.bsky.social

Investigating cases that allege racism, discrimination based on sexual orientation or mistreatment of students with disabilities now requires permission from Trump appointees, according to a memo from OCR leadership. As a result, thousands of discrimination investigations are idled, even ones that were nearing a resolution when Trump took office again.

“OCR is the most useless it’s ever been, and it’s the most dangerous it’s ever been. And by useless, I mean unavailable. Unable to do the work,” said Michael Pillera, who until recently was an OCR attorney in Washington, D.C. (via @propublica.org) www.propublica.org/article/educ...

If you missed the Factbook breakfast, you missed inspiring speeches, musical numbers, and chances to reconnect with colleagues, but you didn’t miss the Factbook, which is now avail online. And here are a few of my favorite moments from today’s event @whitehouse.senate.gov @youngvoices.bsky.social

Last chance to register for the biggest children’s advocacy event of the year and be the first to get the 2025 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook!

This is horrifying and a blatant attack on the privacy of transgender individuals for politics’ sake. I’m grateful to live in a state with a long history of protecting the rights of the transgender community. www.erininthemorning.com/p/anti-trans...

June Anti-Trans Legislative Risk Map A map of the risk for anti-trans laws. For Pride, America feels like it has cleaved into two countries - one which targets transgender people everywhere, and one that has taken huge protective steps.

More up-to-date map

www.erininthemorning.com/p/june-anti-...

Decades of inaction have wrought R.I.’s primary care crisis. We must address it right now, then nurse the state back to health. - The Boston Globe State senators push for urgent reforms after Anchor Medical announced its imminent closure, leaving 25,000 patients scrambling amid a shortage of primary care providers.

Commentary: After decades of inaction, RI must address primary care crisis -- TY @pamlauria.bsky.social @alanadimario.bsky.social & Sen. Sosnowski for your leadership on this issue.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/16/m...

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is part of the Revenue for RI Coalition because we believe that an equitable tax system is needed to ensure that we have the funds needed to provide vital services to RI children and families @rikidscount.bsky.social @rihouseofreps.bsky.social

Blue Cross and Brown University launch 7th annual RI Life Index PROVIDENCE – Rhode Islanders are being asked to participate in the 7th annual RI Life Index survey. The index is meant to assess Rhode Islanders’ perceptions about their ability to be healthy and well...

RI Life Index has been launched. If you get a call, please contribute to this survey being conducted by @bcbsri.bsky.social & @brownpublichealth.bsky.social and help RI get healthier!
pbn.com/blue-cross-a...

For all those who have been anxiously waiting, the time has come. Registration for the @rikidscount.bsky.social Factbook Breakfast is open. Hope to see you there!

This is Providence and this is what DEMOCRACY looks like!

What Data Tell Us About How Schools Can Amplify Student Voice - Child Trends Students are more engaged when they feel their schools seek their voice; this blog includes data on what strategies might be most effective for schools.

What Data Tell Us About How Schools Can Amplify Student Voice @rikidscount.bsky.social www.childtrends.org/publications...

Support Rhode Island KIDS COUNT | 401 Gives 2025 I’m ready to support Rhode Island KIDS COUNT on April 1, 2025 during 401 Gives 2025. Learn more about Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and all the other organizations participating in 401 Gives 2025.

www.401gives.org/organization...

If you're feeling at a loss about how to support children, families, and your community in this current political climate, I hope you'll consider joining us in the fight and supporting @rikidscount.bsky.social on 401gives Day

Amid soaring child care costs and staff shortages, investing in child care is crucial for Rhode Island’s future - The Boston Globe This General Assembly session, we need to expand and strengthen policies and investments we know are working, write members of the Women's Fund of Rhode Island.

Amid soaring child care costs and staff shortages, investing in child care is crucial for RI’s future -- 3 important pieces of legislation would strengthen our state’s child care infrastructure @rightstartri.bsky.social
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/31/m....