Rhode Island KIDS COUNT engages in information-based advocacy to achieve equitable public policies and programs for the improvement of children’s lives.

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT:

Provides independent, credible, comprehensive information on Rhode Island’s children and youth.

Serves as a clearinghouse of data across issue areas and breaks down data by race, ethnicity, income, city/town, age, gender, immigration status, disability, multilingual learners, LGBTQ youth, children in foster care, and children experiencing homelessness.
Uses that information to change or influence public policies and programs to improve children’s lives with a core focus on equity and children living in poverty.

Recognizes that persistent, unacceptable disparities by race, ethnicity, and immigration status result from structural racism which must be dismantled in order to eliminate disparities, achieve equity, and provide equitable opportunities for all children and youth to succeed.

Provides information and strategies on “what works” and promotes best practices that will turn the curve on indicators of child well-being.

Works to advance equitable policies and programs and improve existing public policies.
Holds systems accountable and indicates where changes should be made to improve policies and programs.

Stimulates dialogue on children’s issues and brings together individuals and organizations, including those with lived experience, to develop strategies and solutions to improve children’s lives.

Amplifies youth voice so youth can lead on policies that directly impact their lives and futures.

History:
Founded in 1994, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is an outgrowth and expansion of the Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Project, initiated by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Rhode Island Foundation. Rhode Island KIDS COUNT was a program of the Rhode Island Foundation from 1994 to 1997, and became an independent nonprofit organization in 1997. The Rhode Island Foundation and the United Way of Rhode Island provide generous funding support to Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and work in close partnership with the organization on a wide variety of issues. Additional funding support is provided by several local and national foundations, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.

Paige Clausius-Parks, EdM
Executive Director
pclausius-parks @ rikidscount.org
401-351-9400, ext. 12

Paige Clausius-Parks is Executive Director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. From 2018-2022, Paige served as Senior Policy Analyst; responsible for policy analysis, advocacy, research, and project management in areas related to education and economic well-being. Prior to joining Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, Paige served as Director of Advancement and Assistant Director at Books are Wings, Network Director at Youth in Action, Teacher/Advisor at the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, and Program Coordinator at Youth Pride, Inc. Paige has a Bachelor of Arts from Providence College and a Master of Education from Harvard University.

Kelsey Bala
Policy Analyst
kbala @ rikidscount.org
401-351-9400, ext. 15

Kelsey is responsible for policy analysis, advocacy, research, and project management on child welfare and juvenile justice issues. Kelsey received her Bachelor of Science from Gordon College and her Master of Public Health from Brown University with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health. Kelsey has a background in adolescent mental health and worked as a Clinical Research Assistant at Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center on several prevention-based research studies, including one on dating violence prevention interventions for juvenile court-involved girls. While at Brown, Kelsey wrote her master’s thesis on how Adverse Childhood Experiences can affect adult health. Kelsey is a Providence native. She has strong ties to the community and a deep knowledge of the needs of children and youth and is passionate about eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems.

Leanne C. Barrett
Senior Policy Analyst
lbarrett @ rikidscount.org
401-351-9400, ext. 23

Leanne is a Senior Policy Analyst at Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and works to improve early childhood policy statewide (Birth – Age 8). She is the coordinator of the RIght from the Start Campaign and the Rhode Island Early Learning Council. Leanne has been a leader in developing state laws, policies, and systems to expand access to high-quality child care, Pre-K, Head Start, Early Intervention, family home visiting, maternal and early childhood mental health services, and paid family leave. Prior to joining Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, Leanne was Vice President at United Way of Rhode Island and Program Manager at Work/Family Directions, Inc. She has a bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology from Brown University and a master’s degree in child and family policy from Tufts University. Leanne is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Policy Mentor.

Jennifer Waring Capaldo
Program and Technology Coordinator
Jcapaldo @ rikidscount.org
401-351-9400, ext. 18

Jennifer is responsible for providing program and technology coordination for Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. She provides assistance in all issue areas, tracks legislation and testimony, provides logistical and technological support for meetings and events, contributes to the writing and coordination of the annual Factbook, updates Rhode Island data for the National Kids Count Data Center, and is the point person for all technological needs. Prior to her current position, Jennifer was a marketing manager in the design and construction industry. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Arts degree from New England College.

Ms. W. Galarza
Executive Assistant / Office Manager
wgalarza @ rikidscount.org
401-351-9400, ext. 10

Ms. Galarza is responsible for providing administrative support to the Executive Director and Finance Director. She manages the Executive Director’s schedule and assists with communication with the Board of Directors. She provides logistical support for events, meetings, and conferences, and manages travel arrangements for all staff. She performs the accounting and clerical tasks for processing invoices, Factbook and Kid Pin sales, and issuing payments. Ms. Galarza oversees all office management and maintains office supplies, equipment, and staff administrative records.

Stephanie Geller, EdM
Deputy Director
sgeller @ rikidscount.org
401-351-9400, ext. 11

As Deputy Director, Stephanie is responsible for supervising policy and communications staff, program planning, coordination of the annual Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook, and grants management. She has been a member of the Rhode Island KIDS COUNT staff since 2008, previously serving as Senior Policy Analyst responsible for policy analysis in the areas of education, poverty and family economic security. In 2017, Stephanie received the RI Education Champion Award from the New England Secondary Schools Consortium. She has also served on the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s national KIDS COUNT Steering Committee, as a PrepareRI Ambassador, and on the Nellie Mae Education Foundations’ Speaker’s Bureau. Before joining Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, Stephanie was a Research Associate at the National Center on Family Homelessness where she managed a multi-site study that examined the effectiveness of different housing and service approaches for homeless families. Previously, Stephanie was Research Director at Volunteers in Health Care and Scientist at the National Center on Substance Abuse Treatment Needs Assessment. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Wellesley College and a Master’s in Education with a focus on Human Development and Psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

María Guevara
Finance Director
mguevara @ rikidscount.org
401-351-9400, ext. 27

María is responsible for the internal controls, annual budget, accounting systems and reports necessary to monitor and maintain the financial position of the organization. She prepares regular grant reports to foundation and government funders, monthly financial statements, and materials for the annual audit. María also manages information technology and computer systems, including telephone and internet services. Prior to her current position, she was Fiscal Officer for the Woonsocket Head Start Child Development Association and the Finance Director/Finance and Budget Analyst for Social Enterprise Greenhouse. Maria is originally from Chile where she worked for more than a decade in the finance and investment sectors. Maria has also put her skills to use volunteering for a number of nonprofits related to women and children’s issues, including The Empowerment Factory. María has a Bachelor of Science degree from Universidad de Santiago de Chile and is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Katherine Linwood
Communications Manager
klinwood @ rikidscount.org
401-351-9400, ext. 22

Katherine (Katy) is responsible for implementing external and internal communications for Rhode Island KIDS COUNT across all issue areas. She maintains our website, social media, and e-newsletters; manages media relations; and assists with policy publications. Previously, she was Policy and Administration Coordinator in the Office of Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts and Oral Health Program Specialist at the RI Department of Health. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Anthropology and Health Policy from Harvard University.

Kaitlyn Rabb
krabb @ rikidscount.org
Policy Analyst
401-351-9400, ext. 14

Kaitlyn is responsible for policy analysis, advocacy, research, and project management in areas related to health. Kaitlyn received both her Bachelor of Arts and her Master of Public Health from Brown University. While at Brown, Kaitlyn wrote her master’s thesis on Black women’s breastfeeding experiences. She is deeply committed to reducing and eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in maternal and child health. She has also worked on the issue of childhood obesity, developing training curriculum materials for a family-based child weight management intervention through the Hassenfeld Child Health Institute.

Kaitlyn also brings a deep commitment to community engagement. She worked with the Providence Healthy Communities Office on summer meals participation and as a Bonner Community Fellow led a team of Brown students providing math and science tutoring to students in Providence public schools.

Jessica Vega
jvega @ rikidscount.org
Senior Policy Analyst
401-351-9400, ext. 20

Jessica is responsible for policy analysis, advocacy, research, and project management in areas related to education and economic well-being. Prior to joining Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, Jessica served as Dunamis Synergy Initiative Director at West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation, Program Director at Social Enterprise Greenhouse, and Skill Development Manager at Foster Forward. She also served as High School Advisor at College Crusade, Case Manager at Tides Family Services, and Home Health Case Manager at The Providence Center.

Jessica served on the Central Falls City Council and was most recently City Council President. Jessica also co-developed and facilitated Rhode Island’s first-ever participatory budgeting initiative, which provides a tangible way for the Central Falls community to engage in the democratic process for allocating how a pool of funds will be used. She also serves as Chair of the Central Falls Juvenile Hearing Board. Jessica has a Bachelor of Arts from Rhode Island College and a Master of Arts from Roger Williams University. Jessica has a strong commitment to race equity and is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Marion Orr, PhD, Chairperson
Frederick Lippitt Professor of Public Policy & Professor of Political Science at Brown University
Professor Orr has published seven books, and is also the author of numerous scholarly articles, essays, and reviews. Dr. Orr is an expert on American politics, urban politics, and African-American politics. He is a former chair of the governing board of the Urban Affairs Association, the world’s largest professional organization for urban scholars, researchers, and public service professionals.

Jael Lopes, Vice Chairperson
Director of Strategic Community Partnerships at Providence Public Schools
Jael is a transformational leader with proven success championing the design/development of large-scale programs/projects and governing compliance procedures. She has a commendable track record of optimizing core business processes, building/leading cross-functional teams, directing full-cycle cross-functional projects, and authoring on-boarding structures.

Olga Barsegova, CPA, Treasurer
Olga has extensive experience in public accounting, providing audit and accounting services to various organizations. Olga’s clientele include not-for-profit organizations, private foundations, small to large businesses and state and local governments. Olga works closely with her clients on financial reporting matters, evaluating internal controls and providing guidance on implementation of new accounting pronouncements. Olga is a Certified Public Accountant, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Bryant University and a Master of Professional Accountancy degree from Rhode Island College.

Phyllis Dennery, MD, Secretary
Pediatrician in Chief at Hasbro Children’s Hospital
Dr. Dennery is Pediatrician in Chief at Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children’s Hospital. She is the Sylvia Kay Hassenfeld Professor, Chair of Pediatrics, and Professor of Pediatric Medicine at Brown University. Dr. Dennery is also Professor of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

Marisa A. Albanese
Manager, External Affairs at Rhode Island Energy
Marisa is Manager of External Affairs at Rhode Island Energy. She is an experienced Community Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the utilities and nonprofit arenas. She is skilled in Management, Consensus Building, Nonprofit Organizations, Fundraising, Grantmaking and Leadership.

Naiommy Baret
Naiommy has a vast range of experiences in educational policy, community engagement, disability rights, restorative practices, and a strong commitment to efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout Rhode Island. Naiommy is the former Program Manager at Young Voices where she supported the partnership between Young Voices, Blackstone Academy, and the RI Department of Education Multilingual Learners project. Naiommy is a parent of a son with disabilities and an active member of Parents Leading for Educational Equity (PLEE). Her challenges to enroll her son in Early Intervention was recently highlighted in USA Today. She is currently the Assistant Director of Growth Development for College Unbound. Naiommy is graduate of College Unbound and is a certified community health worker, peer recovery specialist, mental health first aide youth instructor, and trauma informed care.

Karen Davis
Co-Founder of North Star Impact Group
Karen is purpose and results-driven, global corporate social responsibility, employee engagement, entrepreneurial, communications executive. She is changemaker known as a respected, passionate and strategic idea generator with innovative approaches, highly trusted and responsible, with expertise in partnership building, program development, fundraising and management.

Deborah Gonzalez
Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Immigration Clinic at Roger Williams University.
Deborah supervises upper class law students on representation of the indigent immigrant community in Rhode Island with asylum applications, SIJ, VAWA, U Visas, Cancellation of removal, withholding of removal, BIA appeals, before the Executive Office of Immigration Review, and appeals before the First Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as probate hearings and family court hearings in Rhode Island State courts related to immigration relief.

Luisa Murillo
Luisa is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit field for over 30 years. She is a talented non-profit leader skilled in Administration, Management, Communications, Grant Administration and Training; and has a strong commitment to supporting transformational community programs.

Gregg Perry
President, The Perry Group
Gregg is a seasoned communicator who brings creative thinking, legal sensitivity and a unique perspective to clients who are facing reputation challenges. With more than 30-years’ experience Perry serves as a trusted advisor to Fortune 1000 companies; law firms; school districts; universities, leading non-profits and small businesses.

Perry helps organizations build, enhance and protect their reputation and brand. He offers extensive experience in media relations, strategic planning, message development, and crisis, litigation and marketing communications. His background is firmly rooted in lessons learned during a career that began in journalism, was followed by years with a state attorney general and US Congressman, and continued with some of the leading communications firms in New England and Washington, D.C.

Among his career highlights, Perry developed the strategy and lead a team in the creation and roll out of a community relations and branding program for a new non-profit foundation dedicated to investing in diversity, equity and inclusion programs. For that work The Perry Group received the Public Relations Society of America’s Silver Anvil Award for Excellence in Public Relations – Non-Profit Community Relations.

He has frequently spoken about crisis and litigation communications to organizations including the American College of Trial Lawyers, Association of Corporate Counsel, Defense Research Institute, New England Bar Association and the Public Relations Society of America.
Perry serves as a Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Rhode Island, and for six years served on the Executive Board of the Alumni Association of the University of Rhode Island, where he received a B.A. in Journalism and Political Science.

Tanitia Sello
Independent Consultant

James “Jim” Vincent
Community Outreach Officer at the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). From 2013-2019, Jim served as the Compliance Officer at RIPTA where he oversaw the Equal Opportunity (EEO), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Programs (DBE) and Title VI programs.

First elected in 2010, Jim served six terms as president of the NAACP Providence branch. He currently serves as the Housing Committee Chair for the NAACP New England Area Conference. He is, also, the board president of both East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP since 2004) and Providence Promise (2023). He is also a board member of Black Lives Matter RI PAC (2022-2023). Jim is a former president of the Urban League of Rhode Island (1999-2001), the Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy (CHisPA, 2011-2012). and the Rhode Island Affirmative Action Professionals (RIAAP, 2002-2015). Jim, also, is an Executive Committee member of the African Alliance of Rhode Island (AARI), Cox Charities Committee, Rhode Island Equity Council, Providence African American Ambassadors Group (AAAG) and a long term member of the Cape Verdean Progressive Center.

Since 2002, Jim has been the producer and host of television’s Jim Vincent Show. He has received a “Special Recognition” for Best Series Rhode Island COX PEG Television Awards (2006) and the Metcalf Diversity Award for television broadcast (2006 and 2017). He is the Treasurer of the Southern New England Association of Black Journalists (SNEABJ)
For several years, Jim was actively involved as Co-Chairperson of Rhode Island Minority Enterprise Week (MEDWEEK) and the Rhode Island Black Heritage Communications Committee.

Charitable Trusts, Alliance for Early Success, Nellie Mae Education Foundation, van Beuren Charitable Foundation, Alletta Morris McBean Charitable Trust, Partnership for America’s Children, the Hasbro Foundation, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Delta Dental of Rhode Island, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety, Pritzker Children’s Initiative, Papitto Opportunity Connection, Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, Hassenfeld Institute-Brown University, and Providence College.

We’d love to hear from you!

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT
One Union Station
(40 Exchange Terrace – GPS address)
Providence, RI 02903

Phone: 401-351-9400

General: rikids @ rikidscount.org
Web Feedback: klinwood @ rikidscount.org

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Our GPS address is 40 Exchange Terrace, Providence, RI

From I-95 North or South, take Downtown/Memorial Boulevard exit.
At the end of the exit (first traffic light), continue straight onto Memorial Boulevard.
At the next traffic light, turn right onto Exchange Street.
Go straight one block to the stop sign and take a right onto Exchange Terrace.
One Union Station (40 Exchange Terrace) is the middle of five yellow brick buildings on the right. The former train station, it features a large clock on the front of the building.

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT does not have its own parking. Limited parking meters are available on surrounding streets. Visitors seeking to park near Rhode Island KIDS COUNT may wish to use either the Union Station Parking Plaza Garage or the RI Convention Center Parking Garage. We are not able to validate parking at local garages.