CHILDREN'S FRIEND AND SERVICE

FAMILY SUPPORT INITIATIVEDURING 2025, THERE WERE 324 FAMILIES WHO RECEIVED HOME VISITING SERVICES FROM THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM. THE FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS TARGET AT-RISK FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF BIRTH TO 3 YEARS LIVING IN PROVIDENCE, PAWTUCKET AND CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND. HOME BASED SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, CRISIS INTERVENTION, CASE MANAGEMENT, HEALTH AND NUTRITION EDUCATION, PRENATAL EDUCATION, COUNSELING AND PARENTING EDUCATION ARE PROVIDED TO THE FAMILIES IN THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGE. IN ADDITION TO WEEKLY HOME VISITS, FAMILIES PARTICIPATE IN CENTER-BASED ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT GROUPS OFFERED TO BOTH MOTHERS AND FATHERS.HEAD START IS A COMPREHENSIVE CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES SCHOOL READINESS IN LOW-INCOME PRESCHOOL CHILDREN. SERVICES INCLUDE EDUCATION, HEALTH, NUTRITION, SOCIAL SERVICES AND OTHER CHILD AND FAMILY SUPPORTS. PARENTS ARE INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LEARNING AND THE PROGRAM HELPS FAMILIES IN MEETING THEIR EDUCATIONAL, LITERACY AND EMPLOYMENT GOALS.THE HEAD START PROGRAM ENSURES THAT ALL CHILDREN ARE UP-TO-DATE WITH IMMUNIZATIONS AND THAT THEIR HEALTH NEEDS ARE BEING MET. CHILDREN RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. FAMILIES ARE LINKED WITH RESOURCES AND PROVIDED SUPPORT IN MEETING THEIR GOALS.THE AGENCY PROVIDES SERVICES UNDER THE HEAD START PROGRAM IN PROVIDENCE AND THE BLACKSTONE VALLEY AREA. A TOTAL OF 1,167 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH THE PROGRAM DURING 2025.THE EARLY HEAD START CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIPS SUPPORT WORKING FAMILIES BY PROVIDING A FULL-DAY, FULL-YEAR PROGRAM SO THAT LOW-INCOME CHILDREN HAVE THE HEALTHY AND ENRICHING EARLY EXPERIENCES THEY NEED TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. DURING 2025, 114 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVED SERVICES.CHILD CARE CENTERTHE AGENCY OPERATES CHILD CARE CENTERS IN CENTRAL FALLS, PAWTUCKET, AND PROVIDENCE. THERE WERE 180 CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE CENTERS IN 2025 AND AN ADDITIONAL 67 THROUGH THE SUMMER LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. THE PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY PRE-KINDERGARTEN CLASSES TO ELIGIBLE CHILDREN. RIDE OVERSEES THE PROGRAM. 354 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN 2025PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTTHE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES QUALITY TRAINING PROGRAMS OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY, EARLY CARE EDUCATORS, AND STAFF OF THE AGENCY AND OUR AGENCY PARTNERS. APPROXIMATELY 400 EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS OF THE EXTERNAL COMMUNITY AND THE AGENCY PARTNERS PARTICIPATED IN THE TRAININGS DURING 2025.FOSTER CARE/PERMANENCY SERVICES THE ADOPTION/FOSTER CARE PROGRAM PROVIDES A FULL CONTINUUM OF ADOPTION, COUNSELING, CASE-MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR BIRTH PARENTS, CHILDREN, ADOPTIVE PARENTS AND ADULT ADOPTEES. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS FOR AT-RISK INFANTS AND CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO 10 YEARS WHO ARE IN NEED OF TEMPORARY OUT OF HOME CARE, THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM ALSO RECRUITS, TRAINS AND ASSISTS IN THE LICENSING OF FOSTER PARENTS.IN 2025, 0 ADOPTION HOME STUDIES WERE COMPLETED FOR 0 PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE FAMILY. FOSTER CARE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 19 CHILDREN, 0 NEW FOSTER FAMILIES WERE TRAINED, 1 FAMILY WAS LICENSED AND 13 PREVIOUSLY LICENSED FAMILIES REMAINED ACTIVE, FOR A TOTAL OF 14 LICENSED FAMILIES.IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM RESPONDED TO INQUIRIES FOR INFORMATION AND REFERRALS REGARDING ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE RELATED ISSUES.FOSTERING FAMILIES PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES FOR KINSHIP AND FOSTER FAMILIES. ALL REFERRALS FOR SERVICES ARE MADE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES (DCYF). THE GOAL IS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF FOSTER AND KINSHIP FAMILIES WITH FOSTER CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK OF EXPERIENCING REMOVAL DURING THE DURATION OF THEIR TIME WHILE OPEN TO DCYF. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN HOME, AND INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: LINKAGE TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, COURT ADVOCACY AND CASE CONFERENCING, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, PARENTING AND NURSING ASSESSMENT/INTERVENTION/MONITORING, MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING, AND RECREATIONAL AND GROUP INTERVENTIONS. FOSTERING FAMILIES PROVIDES WEEKLY TO BI-WEEKLY VISITS BASED ON THE NEED OF THE FAMILY AND/OR CHILD. SERVICES ARE STATEWIDE AND CAN BE ACTIVE FOR UP TO 15 MONTHS. THE PROGRAM SERVED 36 FAMILIES IN 2025.PARTNERS IN PERMANENCY PROVIDES INTENSIVE, HOME-BASED SERVICES TO DECREASE THE LENGTH OF TIME CHILDREN ARE IN FOSTER CARE. THE GOAL IS TO PROMOTE CHILD WELL-BEING WHILE ACHIEVING TIMELY PERMANENCY AND SAFETY. PARTNERS IN PERMANENCY IS BUILT ON A FAMILY-CENTERED PRACTICE APPROACH, REQUIRING INTENSIVE WORK TOWARD REUNIFICATION WITH BIRTH PARENTS WHILE IDENTIFYING A PLACEMENT OPTION FOR THE CHILD THAT WILL BE PERMANENT IF REUNIFICATION EFFORTS ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN THE HOME AND COMMUNITY. IN 2025, 4 FAMILIES WERE SERVED IN THIS PROGRAM.CARING DADS RHODE ISLAND IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTION WITH A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING MEN INVOLVED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CHILD OR CHILDREN. THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO HELP DADS WITH A HISTORY OF RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGES BUILD HEALTHIER CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND THE OTHER PARENTS, ADULTS, AND CAREGIVERS IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES. SERVICES ARE STATEWIDE AND ARE PROVIDED IN A GROUP FORMAT AND HOME VISITING. IN 2025, 39 FATHERS PARTICIPATED IN SERVICES.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION SERVICESSPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN (WIC) IS A NUTRITION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES: HEALTHY FOODS, NUTRITION EDUCATION TO IMPROVE FAMILY HEALTH, BREASTFEEDING ADVICE AND SUPPORT, REFERRALS TO DOCTORS, DENTISTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES. WIC HELPS PREGNANT WOMEN, BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS, AND NEW MOTHERS WITH BABIES UNDER SIX MONTHS OLD, FATHERS, GRANDPARENTS, FOSTER PARENTS, BABIES, AND CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN FIVE YEARS OLD.THE AGENCY PROVIDES SERVICES UNDER THE WIC PROGRAM IN CENTRAL FALLS, PROVIDENCE AND PAWTUCKET. DURING 2025, 5,412 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH THE WIC PROGRAM.THE FIRST CONNECTIONS PROGRAM IS A HOME-BASED OUTREACH SERVICE INTENDED TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MOTHERS AND THEIR NEWBORN CHILDREN. MOTHERS AND NEWBORNS, WITH POTENTIAL RISKS FOR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT, ARE IDENTIFIED BY THE HOSPITAL WHEN THE BABY IS BORN.THE AGENCY PROVIDES SERVICES UNDER THE FIRST CONNECTIONS PROGRAM IN CENTRAL FALLS, PAWTUCKET, CRANSTON AND PARTS OF PROVIDENCE. DURING 2025, 651 NEWBORN CHILDREN RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH THE PROGRAM.THE HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA (HFA) IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAM ROOTED IN THE BELIEF THAT EARLY, NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR LIFE LONG, HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT. HFA REQUIRES THAT FAMILIES ARE ENROLLED PRENATALLY OR AT BIRTH AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO FAMILIES UNTIL THE CHILD'S THIRD BIRTHDAY.DURING 2025, HFA PROVIDED SERVICES TO 354 PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP (NFP) IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF AT-RISK, FIRST-TIME MOTHERS AND THEIR INFANTS. THE PROGRAM PAIRS THESE YOUNG WOMEN WITH SPECIALLY TRAINED NURSES, WHO CONDUCT HOME VISITS PRENATALLY UNTIL THE CHILD IS TWO YEARS OF AGE.DURING 2025, NFP PROVIDED SERVICES TO 30 PARTICIPANTS. THE AGENCY PROVIDES SERVICES UNDER THE NFP PROGRAM IN PROVIDENCE, PAWTUCKET, CENTRAL FALLS, WEST WARWICK, WOONSOCKET AND NEWPORT. THIS PROGRAM ENDED IN EARLY 2025.