This Rhode Island KIDS COUNT issue brief, one of a series presenting an in-depth look at issues affecting the health, safety, education, and economic well-being of children, focuses on children's mental health services in the state. The brief reports that mental health services for children in Rhode Island are fragmented, with inadequate capacity and a lack of resources invested in prevention, resulting in postponed care, school failure, costly hospitalization, and juvenile detention. Highlighted in the issue brief are key prevention/early intervention recommendations, including fostering family-centered care, focusing on schools as opportunities for prevention, identification, intervention, and early treatment of mental health issues; reaching young children early by capitalizing on contacts with child care, Head Start, and early intervention programs; focusing prevention resources on children who are especially at-risk, such as those in poverty or in the child welfare system, children with developmental disabilities, and children in homes with substance abuse and violence. The brief recommends increased capacity at all levels of treatment, the creation of respite and family support services for families of children with serious emotional disturbances, and resolution of workforce issues that result in a dearth of mental health professionals. The issue brief concludes with lists of state departmental resources and resources for families. (Contains 43 references.) (KB)