Like any family, you may also apply for public benefits.  These may include the following and are based on your income:

• Cash Assistance
  • for more information or to find out if you are eligible, visit Eligibility & How to Apply | RI Department of Human Services
• Energy and Water Assistance Programs
  • DHS works to ensure that all Rhode Islanders have access to home energy and other energy efficiency improvements with their energy assistance programs. Their goal is to keep families and individuals warm in the cold weather months.  For more information or to check elegibility, visit: Energy Assistance Programs | RI Department of Human Services, Home Energy Assistance Program or call (855-MY-RIDHS toll-free 855-697-4347 toll-free)
    • The program helps low-income individuals and families manage and pay utility bills, particularly during cold-weather months, for more information visit https://dhs.ri.gov/programs-and-services/energy-and-water-assistance-programs/low-income-home-energy-assistance
• TCI (Temporary Caregiver Insurance), (401) 462-8420
  • TCI was signed into law on July 11, 2013.  TCI provides eligible claimants up to 5 weeks of caregiver benefits to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, parent-in-law or grandparent, or to bond with a newborn child, new adopted child or new foster-care child.  You must apply for TCI benefits during the first 30 days after the first day of leave is taken for reasons of bonding or caregiving.  For more information visit:  Temporary Disability / Caregiver Insurance | RI Department of Labor & Training 
  • email – DLT.TDI@dlt.ri.gov,
  • mail – RI Dept. of Labor and Training, Temporary Disability Insurance, PO Box 20100, Cranston, RI 02920
    
• Childcare Assistance
  • BrightStars, Rhode Island’s Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement system, assists families in finding care and recognizes and supports quality in early care and education programs.  Choosing who cares for your child is one of the most important decisions a parent or caregiver can make.  BrightStars was developed to help select the best care for your child.
  • To learn about choosing quality early care and education, to find a BrightStars quality early learning program or for more information, visit brightstars.org

• The Division of Taxation has created this webpage specifically for the Child Tax Rebate. Here, you will find up-to-date information regarding this program. To ensure that resources are available to process the rebates, please use this page to receive the most recent updates rather than contacting the Division of Taxation directly.
  • https://eohhs.ri.gov/2022-child-tax-rebate

• Foster Forward Community Storefront, (401) 438-3900
  • The Community Storefront is a space where foster youth and families can shop for donated materials, such as new and gently used clothing, toys, baby equipment, diapers and household essentials.
  • The storefront located at 50 Ann Mary St in Pawtucket is open at select times for shopping.  Visit their website at Foster Forward – Empowering Lives. Fostering Futures. to check times, dates and events.
• The Village for RI Foster & Adoptive Families , (401) 481-5483
  • The Village Closet is a space where kinship, foster and adoptive children can receive items that have been donated, such as clothing, toys, books, cribs, baby equipment, diapers and wipes.
  • The Village Closet is located at 139 Ocean Ave in Cranston.  Visit their website at RIVillage.org for more information.

• Rhode Island Legal Services (RILS), (401-274-2652 | 800-662-5034)
• The program offers free or low-cost legal help, information and resources to low-income residents and older adults. Provides legal advice, information and assistance.
• Resource websites:
• rils.org
• helprilaw.org
• rifairhousing.org
• lowincometaxclinic.org

• Family Care Community Partnerships (FCCPs)
  • Family Care Community Partnerships (FCCPs) are the Department of Children, Youth and Families’ primary prevention resource for the state. FCCPs partner with families and communities to raise healthy children in a safe, caring environment.
  • For more information visit https://dcyf.ri.gov/programs-and-services/behavioral-health/central-referral-unit/family-care-community-partnerships
•  Support & Response Unit at DCYF
  • In September 2020, DCYF launched a new Support and Response Unit (SRU) to help connect families and their children to support services in RI.  DCYF recognizes that many families could benefit from services and supports that were traditionally only available to families with formal DCYF or RI Family Court involvement.The SRU provides assistance by helping to identify each familiy’s needs and by providing the necessary supports to help families thrive.  The unit, which is located within DCYF’s Family Services Unit (FSU), helps families navigate services in their own communities.
  • For more information visit https://dcyf.ri.gov/programsinitiatives/support-and-response-unit-sru

• The Village Support Groups

  • The Village for Rhode Island Foster & Adoptive Families offers a variety of Support Groups throughout the month both in person and virtually.  These groups provide an opportunity for all Kinship Caregivers to share stories, personal experiences, seek advice, find resources and more.  Experienced facilitators, who are caregivers themselves, will be on-hand to guide the group, provide support and to answer questions in a confidential, non-judgmental space.  Click here to view our calendar and for detailed information about our monthly support groups or check out the support group page from the main menu.

• ARI (Support Group for ARI)

• Parents Raising Kids with Special Needs

• Parent Support Network

  We work with parents and family caregivers who have children and youth at risk or who have serious emotional, behavioral and mental health needs. We are the Rhode Island Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America and the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. We are a statewide family network funded by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). We are contracted by the RI Department of Education and RI Department of Children, Youth & Families.

  • Click here to Learn more about our Child & Family Support services.

  • Visit https://psnri.org for more information

RIPIN helps any Rhode Islander, from infants to seniors.
They can help you navigate:

• Special education and supports
• Specialized services for children and young adults with disabilities
• Healthcare and health insurance
• Health education training, support, and resources
  • visit https://ripin.org/services/services/ for more information

Whether your family is looking for support temporarily or on an ongoing basis, CareBreaks can help. CareBreaks connects families to in-home respite care and/or adult-day health center programming for loved ones in need. This program is available to all Rhode Island families; there are no income restrictions.

• Call The Point at 401.462.4444, dial 2-1-1 from any phone anytime or click here for more information

The Respite Program for Children allow parents or guardians caring for a child with disabilities, to have time off for themselves.   To be eligible for the Respite for Children Program, a child must need an institutional level of care that can best be described as the type of care typically provided in a hospital, nursing home or Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR).

Parents / guardians are required to find their own respite worker. Assistance is available from certified Respite agencies.

• Visit Children With Special Needs | Executive Office of Health and Human Services (ri.gov) for more information

These and supports are available to Medicaid eligible children and their families (Fee for Service Medicaid, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI, Tufts Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare Rhode Island Community Plan).

• https://eohhs.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur226/files/2022-05/RI%20Medicaid%20Programs%20for%20Children%205.17.22.pdf

Fact Sheets for each of these services can be found on the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) website at:

• Welcome | Executive Office of Health and Human Services (ri.gov)

All children enrolled in Medicaid from birth to age 21 may qualify for additional health services and supports through the EPSDT benefit. Under the EPSDT Medicaid benefit, children with Medicaid coverage are eligible for preventive and routine health care as well as medically necessary specialized care or services.

• https://eohhs.ri.gov/consumer/families-children/children-special-needs

Here are ways you can get help from HealthSource RI:

• https://healthyrhode.ri.gov/HIXWebI3/DisplayHomePage

Rhode Island Works

RI Works is a financial and employment assistance program for parents and families with little to no income who have children high school age or younger.

It gives individualized and family supportive services, job readiness, preparation and placement, employment or vocational training and retention services. Recipients can also receive child care, transportation and educational services towards the goal of improved long-term stabilization.

Kinship guardians (i.e. a grandparent raising their grandchildren) can also apply for RI Works to support the children that they are legally responsible for.

These supports are available to Medicaid eligible children and their families (Fee for Service Medicaid, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI, Tufts Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare Rhode Island Community Plan).

• https://eohhs.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur226/files/2022-05/RI%20Medicaid%20Programs%20for%20Children%205.17.22.pdf

Fact Sheets for each of these services can be found on the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) website at:

• Welcome | Executive Office of Health and Human Services (ri.gov)

All children enrolled in Medicaid from birth to age 21 may qualify for additional health services and supports through the EPSDT benefit. Under the EPSDT Medicaid benefit, children with Medicaid coverage are eligible for preventive and routine health care as well as medically necessary specialized care or services.

• https://eohhs.ri.gov/consumer/families-children/children-special-needs

Here are ways you can get help from HealthSource RI:

• https://healthyrhode.ri.gov/HIXWebI3/DisplayHomePage

WHY is it IMPORTANT for FAMILIES to be Involved with The Council? 

We Need You! 

¿POR QUÉ es IMPORTANTE que las Familias se involucren con el Consejo? 

¡Te Necesitamos! 

This is an opportunity for you to share your experiences and ideas, meet other families, and provide your input on DCYF operations, policies and regulations.

YOU can help make a difference to improve RI’s supports and services for children, youth and foster families! 

Make a Difference!    Hacen la Diferencia!

All full council meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday every other month (unless noted) from 7 to 8:30pm.  Our full council meeting dates for the the first half of 2024 year are:

Click on the link below to learn more about this project and the resources that are available through The RI Department of Healthy Aging and the grant partners, The Village for RI Foster & Adoptive Families as well as United Way of RI. 

• https://youtu.be/atRIhZqLg6o

Visit RIVillage.org for more information regarding supports and resources available to Kinship Foster & Adoptive Families

Check out our FB Page, RI Kinship Community Connections, for more information and additional resources available to Caregivers over the age of 55.

RI Elder Info – Friday Friends

The Village for RI Foster and Adoptive Families and The Heart Tree joined Deb Burton, Executive Director of RI Elder Info for the week’s episode of Friday Friends.  Check it out below:

• • https://www.youtube.com/live/6Y3kxTx0_nM?feature=share

Click on the link below to find resources that are available to all Rhode Islanders.  Find info on Mental Health Services, Health Care, Heating Assistance and much more. 

• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vfIiKHOOibiKWHuOGOT1zwGZWptsCT0G/view?usp=sharing

Click here to be redirected to Special Events/Resources for Kinship Caregivers/Caregivers age 55+