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DEFINITION

Child deaths is the number of deaths from all causes to children ages 1 to 14, per 100,000 children. The data are reported by place of residence, not place of death.

SIGNIFICANCE

The child death rate is a reflection of the physical health of children, the dangers to which children are exposed at home and in the community, and the level of adult supervision children receive.¹ Despite medical advances in prevention and treatment, the leading cause of death among Rhode Island children is illness.²

Unintentional injuries cause death and disability in children. It is estimated that 90% of unintentional injuries can be prevented.³ Between 1989 and 1993, fifty-one deaths were due to unintentional injuries. An additional sixteen deaths were due to intentional injuries (i.e. homicide or suicide). The four leading causes of injury deaths for children ages 1 to 14 were homicide, drowning, fire, and choking.⁴

Child Deaths by All Causes,
Children Ages 1 to 14,
Rhode Island, 1989 - 1993

Cause of Injury, Children Ages 1 to 14
Rhode Island, 1989 - 1994.

Cause of Injury (n=69)

Source: Rhode Island Department of Health, Division of Family Health, Maternal and Child Health Database - Death Files, 1989 - 1993

The number of injury deaths is only a small part of the whole injury picture. For every death due to injuries, there are many more injuries that are untreated or require emergency room treatment of hospitalization.⁵

The Rhode Island Department of Health compiled 1990 injury data for children ages 0-14 and found there were 11 deaths, 882 hospitalizations, and 27,400 emergency room visits - all due to injuries.⁶

Many of the injuries that do not result in death leave children temporarily or permanently disabled, result in time lost from school, and decrease the child's ability to participate in activities.⁷

Table 17: Child Deaths, Rhode Island, 1989-1993.

Teen Deaths

DEFINITION

Teen deaths is the number of deaths from all causes to teens ages 15 to 19, per 100,000 children. The data are reported by place of residence, not place of death.

SIGNIFICANCE

Teens are more likely than any other age group to take risks that can cause injury to themselves and others. Factors contributing to teen deaths include risk-taking behavior, the use of alcohol and drugs, and violence.¹

The leading cause of death among Rhode Island teens is unintentional injuries. Of the 166 teen deaths between 1989 and 1993, sixty-seven were due to unintentional injuries; more than two-thirds of these were due to motor vehicle collisions.²

Suicide and homicide claimed the lives of 54 teens, accounting for one-third of all teen deaths between 1989-1993.³ Twelve percent of the 27,202 students in the 1995 RI Adolescent Substance Abuse Survey reported that they often fell that life is not worth living.⁴ Gay and lesbian youths are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual people.⁵

Teen Deaths by All Causes,
Teens Ages 15 to 19,
Rhode Island, 1989-1993

(n=166)

Source: Rhode Island Department of Health, Division of Family Health, Maternal and Child Health Database - Death Files, 1989 - 1993

Cause of Injury Deaths, Teens Ages 15 to 19,
Rhode Island, 1989-1993

Cause of Injury Death (n=124)

Source: Rhode Island Department of Health, Division of Family Health, Maternal and Child Health Database - Death Files, 1989 - 1993

Gun Violence

In Rhode Island 1in 1994 and 1995, there were 11 gun deaths among teens ages 15 to 19. Of the forty-eight children hospitalized with gunshot wounds, one of the victims was younger than age 5, two were between ages 5 and 9, seven were between the ages of 10 and 14, and thirty-eight were between the ages of 15 and 19. Twenty two were intentional injuries, twenty-two were unintentional injuries, and four were of undetermined intention.⁶

Source: Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Health Statistics, 1996.

Table 18: Teen Deaths, Rhode Island, 1989-1993

Homeless Children

DEFINITION

Homeless Children is the number of Rhode Island children under 13 years old who received emergency services at homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters between July 1, 1995 and June 30, 1996.

SIGNIFICANCE

Deprived of the protection and stability a home provides, homeless children often suffer from illness and serious emotional distress, exhibiting short attention spans, withdrawal, aggression, speech delays, and sleep disorders. They are more at risk for lead poisoning, asthma, and malnutrition and are at greater risk for educational underachievement.¹

Periods of homelessness, or a rapid succession of moves due to an unstable living situation, have a negative impact on a child's education.² Rhode Island educators, particularly in the core cities, report a rise in the number of students moving in and out of their school communities during the course of an academic year.

The shortage of affordable apartments and the dwindling number of housing subsidies has caused my Rhode Island families to "double-up", resulting in overcrowded, unstable living conditions. With a large percentage of family income going toward rent, any interruption in income or unexpected expenses can place families at risk of homelessness.³

Many children are homeless due to domestic violence. In addition to fearing for their own and their mother's safety, exposure to violence can limit children's cognitive development and the ability to form close attachments.⁴

Children Receiving Services at Homeless Shelters and Domestic Violence Shelters, by Age, Rhode Island 1996.

(n=1,056)

Source: Rhode Island Emergency Shelter Information Project Annual Report, July 1, 1995-June 30, 1996 (1996). Rhode Island: The Rhode Island Emergency Food and Shelter Board.

  1,056 children under age thirteen received shelter through Rhode Island's Emergency Shelter network (homeless and domestic violence shelters) from July 1, 1995 through June 30, 1996. This does not include families who were turned away from shelters or those who sought shelter with family members or friends.⁵

Two-thirds of the children under age 13 were assisted at emergency homeless shelters and one-third were assisted at domestic violence shelters.⁶

Homeless and Runaway Youth

Nationally it is estimated that 500,000 youth runaway each year; most are between the ages of thirteen and fifteen.⁷

Homeless and runaway youth are at risk of being physically and or sexually victimized, abusing drugs and alcohol, attempting suicide, becoming victims or perpetrators of crime, receiving money for sex to meet their basic survival needs, and contracting HIV/AIDS.⁸

Many runaway and homeless youth are fleeing disruptive and abusive family conditions.⁹ Some runaway youth are considered to be "throw-aways" who were told to leave a household, were abandoned or deserted, or tried to return home and were denied access.¹⁰

Homeless Youth in Rhode Island

While there are no accurate data on the total number of homeless and runaway youth in Rhode Island, the following information provides and indication of the problem.

A total of 477 runaway or throwaway youth under age 18 accessed services through Travelers Aid's Runaway Youth Project from January through December 1996. The majority of these youth were from families living below the poverty line and almost half had dropped out of school.¹¹

In February 1996, Tides Family Services provided services to 122 wayward and delinquent youth in the Pawtucket/Centrall Falls area, up from 76 youth served in February 1995.

There has been a steady increase in the demand for host home placement through the Runaway and Homeless Youth Network which includes Stopover Services of Newport County, the Urban League, Tides Family Services, and Travelers Aid.

In January 1997, 178 youth in DCYF care were classified unauthorized absence/runaways.

82 youth are 13 to 17 received service from homeless and domestic violence shelters between June 1995 and July 1996.

References for Indicator

Juveniles Refereed to Family Court

DEFINITION

Juveniles refereed to Family Court is the percentage of juveniles ages 10 to 17 refereed to Rhode Island Family Court for all wayward and delinquent offenses.

SIGNIFICANCE

Risk factors for juvenile crime and delinquency include a lack of educational and job training opportunities, poverty, family violence, and inadequate supervision. Poor school performance, including chronic truancy and falling behind one or more grade levels, increases the likelihood of involvement with the juvenile justice system.¹

The Rhode Island Family Court has jurisdiction over all juvenile offenders referred for wayward and delinquent offenses.

In 1996, in Rhode Island, 5,198 juveniles were referred to Family Court for a total of 10,375 offenses (one youth can be charged with multiple offenses). In all, 5.5% of Rhode Island youths ages 10 to 17 were referred to Family Court at least once in 1996.² These numbers do not include instances in which local law enforcement agencies refer a juvenile to a youth diversionary program or a city or town juvenile hearing board.

Approximately 31% of all cases referred to Family Court are diverted instead of proceeding to a formal court hearing. Current community-based diversion/rehabilitation openings are limited. Specialized community-based placements are often unavailable for youth who need them.

In 1996, the Attorney General's Office filed 51 motions for waiver of jurisdiction to try juveniles as adults. 41 of these waiver motions were granted; 10 are pending.

Juvenile Wayward/Delinquent Offenses Referred to Family Court by Type, Rhode Island, 1996

  n=10,375
*Status Offenses are acts that are age-related and would not be punishable if the offender were and adult, such as truancy and disobedient conduct.

Source: RI Family Court, RIJIS Intake Statistics, Year End Reports, 1996.

Focus on Prevention

The Comprehensive Strategy of the Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Programs (OJJDP) promotes prevention and early intervention as the most cost-effective approach to reducing delinquency.³

Successful prevention strategies must engage the entire spectrum of individuals and institutions in the young person's life, including families, schools, peers, and other adults in the community. Prevention and early intervention programs are most effective when they are community based, culturally appropriate and initiated early in a child's development.⁴

Effective prevention strategies include truancy reduction, mentoring, conflict resolution, after-school tutoring, vocational training, recreation, community service and leadership development.⁵

Many violent juveniles have themselves been victims of neglect, abuse, and violence. Child abuse prevention and intervention are needed to interrupt the cycle of violence.⁶

Juvenile Offenses, Rhode Island, 1995 to 1996⁷

Drug/Alcohol offenses increased 11%, from 933 to 1033.

Arson offenses decreased 46%, from 100 to 54.

Violent crime offenses decreased 6%, from 579 to 542.

Weapons offenses increased 36%, from 226 to 307.

Possession of firearm on school property offenses increased from 7 to 8.

The Rhode Island Training School for Youth

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families operates the Rhode island Training School for Youth, the state's 176-bed residential detention facility for adjudicated youths and those awaiting trial.

As of December, 1996 there were 205 youths at the Training School - 16% over capacity. Approximately 1,060 youth passed through the Training School during 1996. The average sentence is between six and twelve months. The Training School population ranges in age from12 to 20; the average age is seventeen years; 92% of the residents are male, 8 % are female. Over 60% of the Training School population is made up of ethnic/racial minorities.⁸

The mean reading level of the total Training School population is fifth grade, sixth month; and the mean mathematics level is fourth grade, ninth month. A survey of educational records of the Training School youths confirms significant academic difficulty in local schools. Based on 61 records reviewed, in the year prior to incarceration, 4 youths has passing grades, 2 youths had mixed passing and failing grades, and 55 had all failing grades or no grades at all.⁹

Adolescence to Adulthood: Successful Transitions

According to a 1995 Carnegie Corporation report, Great Transitions: Preparing Adolescents for a New Century;¹⁰

Good schools, caring families, and supportive community institutions help young people make the transition into adulthood - well-educated, committed to families and friends, and prepared to be productive workers and citizens.

Adolescents need critical life skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, resolving conflict nonviolently, and coping with stress.

Adolescents need environments that foster healthy social development, academic and vocational skills, and offer opportunities for recreation and community service.

Adolescents need close, ongoing contact with caring and competent adults whose judgment they trust.

References for Indicator

Child Abuse and Neglect

DEFINITION

Child abuse and neglect is the total number of indicated cases of child abuse and neglect per 1,000 children. "Indicated case" means that credible evidence exists that child abuse and/or neglect occurred following and investigation of an abuse report. an indicated case can involve more than one child. Child abuse includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Child neglect includes physical and emotional neglect.

SIGNIFICANCE

Every year, nearly 3 million children throughout the United States are reported to child protective services agencies as alleged victims of child maltreatment.¹ More than one million children are found to be confirmed victims of abuse or neglect each year.² Children may suffer from child abuse regardless of their racial or ethnic background or socio-economic status. Children are at increased risk for maltreatment if their parents or caregivers are experiencing multiple problems such as drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, emotional stress, poverty, unemployment, or domestic violence.³

Child maltreatment can result in death, permanent disability, delayed development, mental and behavioral disorders, depression, and suicide. It is also linked to poor academic performance, juvenile delinquency, and teenage pregnancy.⁴

In Rhode Island in 1996, there were 2,541 indicated cases of child abuse and neglect, a rate of 9.1 per 1,000 children. Fifty-five percent of indicated cases involved children from the core cities of Providence, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, Newport and Central Falls.

Indicated Cases of Child Abuse and Neglect, Rhode Island, 1995

(n=3,192)*

(4,906)**

Notes on Pie Charts

All data are from the Rhode island Department of Children, Youth and Families.

* The number of victims is higher than the number of indicated cases. One indicated case can involve more than one child victim. Data reflect and unduplicated count of child victims.

** The number reflects maltreatment events, not children. Children often experience more than one type of abuse. For example, if a child were physically and sexually abused, two maltreatment events would be counted.

*** Perpetrators can abuse more than one child and can abuse a child more than once.

Facts About Child Abuse in Rhode island, 1995

3,192 children were determined to be victims of child abuse and neglect by DCYF

52% of child abuse and neglect victims were under age 6, including 227 infants under age one.

51% of victims of child abuse and neglect are female, 49% were male.

5 children died as a result of injuries due to abuse by a parent or caretaker.

Rhode Island Child Deaths Due to Child Abuse and Neglect*

DCYF (CANTS)* Hotline Calls for Reports of Abuse/Neglect, Investigations, Indicated Cases, Rhode Island, 1994-1996

*Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System

**One CANTS investigation can be generated by multiple hotline calls.

Source: All data are from the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families, 1990-1996.

The Impact of Violence in the Home On Children

87% of children in homes with domestic violence witness the abuse. The impact of children's exposure to domestic violence can cause psychological harm. Children fear for their own and their mother's safety, and often experience self-blame. Exposure to such trauma can also limit cognitive development and the ability to form close attachments.⁵

The rate of child abuse is significantly greater for children in homes with spousal battery (husband to wife). A review of research on the relationship between domestic violence and child abuse indicates that up to 50% of the children in violent homes are themselves abused.⁶

The Sexual Abuse of Children

The FBI estimates that as many as one out of every three girls and one out of every five boys will be sexually assaulted by the time they reach age 18.⁷

97% of child molesters are male, and it is estimated that 80 to 90 percent of them are known to the children they molest. The most frequent perpetrators are the victim's biological father, stepfather, mother's boyfriend, or acquaintances of the child's family.⁸

The RI Department of Children, Youth and Families received reports of sexual molestation involving 733 children in 1995. Of these, investigators substantiated abuse involving 328 children. Ninety-three of these cases involved sexual intercourse, 232 cases involved sexual molestation, and 3 cases involved sexual exploitation.⁹

DCYF Caseload:

On January 1, 1997 the total active caseload of the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families was 7,716 children. This does not count the 2,063 children in pending child abuse and neglect investigations or the 663 children enrolled in DCYF community-based programs.

Children in DCYF Care
by Living Arrangement

n=7,716

Children in Out-of-Home Placements

The most frequent reason children are removed from their homes are neglect, lack of supervision, sexual abuse and physical abuse, and incapacity of the parent. Increasingly, parental abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs are contributing factors leading up to the need for substitute care. Some children are in out-of-home placements because they represent a danger to themselves, their families, or the communities.¹⁰

Out-of-home placements include non-relative foster homes, relative foster homes, specialized foster homes, relatives, group homes, shelter care, residential treatment, and medical facilities. As of January 1997, 2,290 Rhode Island children under the care of DCYF were in out-of-home placements. An additional 1,534 children were involved with subsidized or non-subsidized adoptions, and 178 were classified as unauthorized absence/runaways.

Night-to-night placements refer to the temporary nightly placement of youths under the care of DCYF who are awaiting a permanent foster care placement or a group home/treatment placement or who have run away from their current placement. During November and December 1996, and average of 14 youths per week were in night-to-night placements.

Foster Homes

In Rhode Island as of January 1997, there were 1,481 children living in foster homes: 57% in non-relative foster homes, 35% in relative foster homes, and 8% in specialized foster homes (which provide specialized care to children with special needs).

As of January 1997, there were 604 licensed foster homes providing non-relative foster care; 371 certified relative foster homes; and 96 homes pending licenser or certification.

An increasing number of children entering relative and non-relative foster homes have significant emotional, behavioral and medical needs, including developmental delays, low birth weight, heart problems, AIDS, and health problems due to prenatal drug exposure. The complex needs of the children require adequate support for foster parents and a comprehensive array of services and supports in the community.¹¹

Residential Care

As of January 1997, 351 young people in DCYF care were in residential treatment, 149 were in group homes, and 121 were in independent living situations.

Table 19: Number of Indicated Cases of Child Abuse & Neglect per 1,000 Children, Rhode Island 1996