Pawtucket Data In Your Backyard

Findings from the 2009 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook

Presented by Stephanie Geller

Rhode Island KIDS COUNTJune 25, 2009

Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Special Thanks

Special thanks to

Pawtucket School DepartmentChild Opportunity Zone

for hosting today’s presentation.

The 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.

2009 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook

Family and Community

Pawtucket Child Populationby Race & Ethnicity 2000

Population Under 18 Years of AgeWhite, non-Hispanic 10,090 (55.6%)Hispanic 3,820 (21%)Black, non-Hispanic 1,776 (9.8%)Asian 131 (0.7%)American Indian/Native Hawaiian 60 (0.3%)Some other race 1,251 (6.9%)2 or more races 1,023 (5.6%)Total 18,151

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000.

According to the American Community Survey, in 2007 there were 17,366 children living in Pawtucket.

Pawtucket’s child population is ethnically diverse.

Children in Single-Parent Families

In 2000, 42% of children in Pawtucket (6,988 children) lived in single-parent families, a significantly higher percentage than the state average (30%).

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.

48%44% 42%

51%

33%

46%

30%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Central F

alls

Newport

Pawtuck

et

Providence

Wes

t Warw

ick

Woonso

cket

Rhode Islan

d

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000.

Mother’s Education Level Births by Mother’s Education Level, 2003-2007

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.

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%).

Source: Rhode Island Department of Health, Division of Family Health, Maternal and Child Health Database, 2002-2006.

35%

17%

36%

21% 23%17%

28%

15%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Less than HSDiploma

HS Diploma Some College Bachelor'sDegree or

Above

Pawtucket Rhode Island

Infants Born at Highest Risk

Mother:

Under Age 20

Unmarried

Without High School Degree

Child:9 times more likely to

grow up in poverty

More likely to suffer from abuse or neglect

Less likely to be ready for school at kindergarten entry

Less likely to perform well in school

Less likely to complete high school

In Pawtucket in 2008, 75 (7%) babies were born at highest risk.

Infants Born at Highest RiskCore Cities and Rhode Island, 2008

# of Births # Born at Risk # Born at Highest Risk

Central Falls 396 382 37 (9%)

Newport 269 226 8 (3%)

Pawtucket 1,021 921 75 (7%)

Providence 2,900 2,704 257 (9%)

West Warwick 376 302 20 (5%)

Woonsocket 624 566 50 (8%)

Core Cities 5,586 5,101 447 (8%)

Rhode Island 11,668 9,788 607 (5%)

Source: Rhode Island Department of Health, KIDSNET Database, 2008

Economic Well-BeingEconomic Well-Being

Child Poverty in Rhode Island, 2004-2007

Source: 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.

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

In total, an estimated 7.6% (17,697) of all children in Rhode Island lived in extreme poverty.

Children in Poverty

<50% FPL <100%FPL <200% FPLCentral Falls 1,146 (21.2%) 2,210 (40.9%) 3,875 (71.7%)

Newport 773 (14.9%) 1,267 (24.4%) 2,223 (42.8%)

Pawtucket 2,195 (12.2%) 4,542 (25.3%) 9,047 (50.4%)

Providence 8,846 (19.9%) 18,045 (40.5%) 29,796 (66.9%)

West Warwick 462 (7.0%) 1,186 (18.1%) 2,655 (40.5%)

Woonsocket 2,061 (18.8%) 3,494 (31.8%) 5,961 (54.3%)

Rhode Island 19,773 (8.1%) 41,162 (16.9%) 83,420 (34.2%)

Source: 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 Rent

Housing is considered affordable if it consumes 30% or less of a family’s household income.

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.

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.

Average Cost of a Two Bedroom Apartment 1999-2008

$1,068

$551

$613

$1,232

$400$500$600$700$800$900

$1,000$1,100$1,200

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Pawtucket Rhode Island

Source: Rhode Island Housing Rent Survey, Annual Rent Surveys, 1999-2008.

Families Receiving Cash Assistance

Between 1996 and 2008, there was a 54% decline in the Rhode Island cash assistance caseload.

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

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

% of Income-Eligible Children Under Age 18 Receiving Food Stamps

In 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.

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.

82%

61%

77% 78%72%

84%77%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

Source: Rhode Island Department of Human Services, 2007

School Breakfast Program% of Low-Income Children Participating in School Breakfast, 2008

Pawtucket has a Universal School Breakfast Program which offers free breakfast to all children regardless of income.

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.

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

Source: Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2008

29%34%

26%

38%

27%

42%

29%

0%

16%

33%

49%

Central Falls Newport Pawtucket Providence WestWarwick

Woonsocket Rhode Island

HealthHealth

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.

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 Assistance

8,881

5,862

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

As 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

Children under age 19 Receiving Medical Assistance, Pawtucket, 1997-2008

Infant Health Outcomes, 2003-2007Delayed Prenatal

CarePreterm Births Low Birthweight

InfantsInfant MortalityRate/1000 Births

Central Falls 17.2% 11.6% 6.5% 8.4

Newport 11.9% 11.6% 7.4% 5.8

Pawtucket 14.7% 12.1% 8.8% 7.3Providence 17.4% 13.9% 9.5% 8.9

West Warwick 12.5% 10.8% 7.5% 5.4

Woonsocket 15.4% 13.7% 9.9% 6.4Remainder of State 8.8% 11.1% 7.4% 5.0Core City Avg. 16.0% 13.0% 8.9% 7.9Rhode Island 12.1% 12.0% 8.1% 6.3

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.

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, 1999-2010

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%).

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.

5.4%

20.7%

4.5%

19.5%

0%5%

10%15%

20%25%30%35%

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Year of Kindergarten Entrance

Pawtucket Rhode Island

Source: Rhode Island Department of Health. Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Children entering kindergarten between 1998-2010.

Housing and Health

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.

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.

Between 2005 and 2007, 87% of low-income children in Rhode Island lived in older housing, the highest percentage in any state.

Source: Population Reference Bureau analysis of the 2005-2007 American Community Survey PUMS Data* Older housing is defined as housing built before 1980.

Births to TeensBirths Rate per 1,000 girls ages 15-19

The 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).

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.

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

32.6 40.519.1

92.3

58.743.2

56.4 50.730.4

1030507090

110130150

Pawtucket Core Cities Rhode Island

Ages 15-17 Ages 18-19 Ages 15-19

Source: Rhode Island Department of Health, 2003-2007

SafetySafety

Homeless Children & YouthChildren and Youth Living in Shelters, Rhode Island, 1999-2007

1,7701,5231,717

1,4501,260994

0

500

1000

1500

2000

1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 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.

In 2008, 953 families sought emergency shelter, a 21% increase from the previous year. More than 1 in 6 (16%) of the children in these families had experienced homelessness before.

Homeless children are more likely to become ill, develop mental health issues, go hungry, and miss school than other children. Studies suggest that only 1 in 4 will finish high school.

Source: Rhode Island Emergency Shelter Information Project, Annual Reports 1999-2008

Child Abuse & NeglectVictims of Child Abuse and Neglect per 1,000 children,

Pawtucket, Core Cities, Remainder of State and Rhode Island

Source: Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families, 1997-2008.

16.7

10.7

17.0

7.0

02468

1012141618

Pawtucket Core Cities Remainder ofState

Rhode Island

Indi

cate

d In

vesti

gatio

ns

2008

In 2008, there were 303 victims of child abuse and neglect in Pawtucket, a rate of 16.7 per 1,000 children.

Child abuse and neglect victim rates in the core cities ranged from a low of 14.4 victims per 1,000 children in Providence to a high of 28.2 in Woonsocket.

In 2008, the vast majority (79%) of child abuse and neglect investigations were for neglect.

EducationEducation

Children Enrolled in Head Start, 2008

In 2008, 200 (26%) of eligible children in Pawtucket were enrolled in Head Start.

Statewide, Head Start was serving 40% of the estimated 6,200 eligible children ages 3-4 in Rhode Island.

Children Enrolled in Early Head Start, 2008 There are no Early Head Start programs that serve

Pawtucket families.

Statewide, Early Head Start served 4% of the estimated 9,365 eligible children under age 3 in Rhode Island.

Child Care

The number of child care slots available for children of all ages in Pawtucket has decreased since 2004.

During this same period, the number of Pawtucket children receiving child care subsidies decreased by 47%.

In 2008, Pawtucket had 66 child care slots per 100 children under the age of 6 in need of regulated child care, less than the state rate of 91 per 100 children under age 6.

Source: Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families.

Child Care Slots in Pawtucket

314

872

583

1,171

279385

1,047

732

0200400600800

100012001400

Center Care Ages<3

Center Care Ages3-5

Family ChildCare

School-Age ChildCare

num

ber

of s

lots

2004 2008

Children in Full-Day Kindergarten

18%

92%

0%

68%

0% 0%

18%

100% 100%

84%

100%

75%

100%

58%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Central Falls Newport Pawtucket Providence WestWarwick

Woonsocket Rhode Island

1999-20002008-2009

Source: Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 1999-2000 & 2008-2009.

As of the 2008-2009 school year, 13 school districts offered universal access to full-day kindergarten classrooms. Another 8 school districts operated at least 1 full-day kindergarten classroom, including Pawtucket.

Pawtucket’s full-day kindergarten enrollment rate (84%) has increased significantly, but is still below the core city average (95%).

English Language Learners (ELL)

Source: Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2007-2008

Total Number of ELL Students (Pre-K - 12)

Total % of District

Central Falls 728 22%

Newport 62 3%

Pawtucket 871 10%

Providence 3,615 15%

West Warwick 86 2%

Woonsocket 275 4%

Core Cities 5,637 12%

Rhode Island 7,427 5%

During the 2007-2008 school year, 871 (10%) of Pawtucket’s 8,530 students were English Language Learners.

Nationally and in Rhode Island, the achievement gap between students who are English Language Learners and all students widens between elementary and middle school. In October 2008 in Rhode Island, 8% of eighth-grade ELL students scored at or above proficiency in math, compared to 53% of all Rhode Island eighth-graders.

Student MobilityStudent Mobility Rate*,

Core Cities and Rhode Island, 2007-2008

27%22% 24%

28%

18%24%

16%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Central Falls Newport Pawtucket Providence West Warwick Woonsocket Rhode Island

Source: Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2007-2008

Children who move perform worse on standardized tests than children who have not experienced mobility. The more frequent the number of moves, the worse the performance.

In Rhode Island, students who move are absent more often than students who do not move. Those who did not change schools had a 92% attendance rate, compared with 75% for those who changed schools between one and three times during the 2006-2007 year.

The mobility rate in Pawtucket (24%) is higher than the state’s rate of 16%. *The mobility rate is the total children enrolled and exited during a year over the total year’s enrollment.

Fourth-Grade Reading Skills% At or Above the Proficiency Level

Core Cities and Rhode Island, 2005 & 2008

40%46% 48%

31%

55%46%

60%

48%53%

47%

69%

53%

68%

58%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Central Falls Newport Pawtucket Providence West Warwick Woonsocket Rhode Island

2005 2008

Pawtucket’s fourth-grade proficiency level (58%) on the NECAP is higher than it was in 2005 (48%) but below the state rate of 68%.

Source: Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2005 & 2008, NECAP.

High School Graduation and Dropout RatesClass of 2008

This chart shows the percentage of students who matriculated as freshmen in 2004-2005 who graduated in 4 years, dropped out, completed their GED and were retained in school. These percentages are based on actual student counts using the unique student identifier system.

In Pawtucket in 2008, 57% of students graduated from high school on-time, compared to 74% for the state as a whole.

Source: Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2007-2008 School Year.

Graduation Rate

Dropout Rate GED Rate Retention Rate

Central Falls 52% 29% 2% 16%

Newport 66% 22% 3% 9%

Pawtucket 57% 26% 6% 11%

Providence 63% 26% 2% 9%

West Warwick 68% 19% 4% 10%

Woonsocket 60% 28% 3% 9%

Rhode Island 74% 16% 3% 7%

High School Graduation Rates

Rhode Island Graduation Ratesby Student Subgroup, Class of 2008

74%79%

69%

56%

79%

61%

86%

59%

40%47%49%

65%

57%62%

55%

65%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

All Students Females Males EnglishLanguageLearners

Students withDisabilities

Studentswithout

Disabilities

Low-IncomeStudents

Higher-IncomeStudents

Rhode Island Pawtucket

Source: Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2007-2008 School Year.

Stephanie GellerPolicy Analyst

Rhode Island KIDS COUNTOne Union Station

Providence, RI 02903sgeller@rikidscount.org

(401) 351-9400 voice(401) 351-1758 fax

www.rikidscount.org