HomeRhode Island Resources

Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island

Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (www.nhpri.org) is a not-for-profit HMO that was founded over 20 years ago to make sure everyone in our state has access to high-quality, low-cost health care. We’ve been ranked as one of the top ten Medicaid health plans in America for the past eleven years* and currently
serve nearly 150,000 members.

We were founded to make sure everyone has comprehensive health care coverage and access to high quality care. We particularly focus on serving the needs of people often left behind by the health care delivery system.

State of Rhode Island, Department of Children, Youth, and Families

The mission of the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) is to partner with families and communities to raise safe and healthy children and youth in a caring environment.

State of Rhode Island Department of Human Services

Through the compassionate delivery of critical safety net and other supportive services, the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) is committed to ensuring that individuals and families in Rhode Island have access to the supports they need to achieve their goals.

Head Start Services

Head Start programs promote the school readiness of infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children from low-income families. Services are provided in a variety of settings including centers, family child care, and children’s own home. Head Start programs also engage parents or other key family members in positive relationships, with a focus on family wellbeing. Parents participate in leadership roles, including having a say in program operations.

Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) – Bright Stars

BrightStars assists families in finding quality early care, education and afterschool programs. Families looking for care may search online or call 1-855-398-7605. BrightStars also evaluates the quality of early care, education and afterschool programs and rates them from one (1) to five (5) stars and then helps them improve and expand their quality.

By becoming BrightStars-rated, early care, education, and afterschool programs show that they are committed to quality. BrightStars ratings are based on research-based standards that support development and learning.

Child Protective Services

Child Protective Services (CPS) is the investigative division of the Department, and includes the Department’s hotline. This division ensures each child and youth is protected from harm through the timely investigation of reports of child abuse and neglect. CPS receives, screens and responds to reports of suspected child maltreatment.

CPS operates 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Investigators receive and screen reports of suspected abuse and neglect on the Department’s hotline (1-800-RI-CHILD) and conduct associated investigations, as needed.

All persons in Rhode Island are required by law (RIGL 40-11-3) to report known or suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect to the Department within 24 hours of becoming aware of such abuse/neglect. Reports of abuse and neglect originate from several sources including the public, courts, hospitals, police departments, parents and relatives as well as other sources.

Rhode Island Office of Child Support Services

The mission of the Child Support Agency is derived from the title IV-D of the Social Security Act:

To enhance the well being of children by assuring that assistance in obtaining support, including financial and medical, is available to children through locating parents, establishing paternity, establishing support obligations and monitoring and enforcing those obligations.

Children’s Health Insurance Program

RIte Care is Rhode Island’s Medicaid managed care program for families with children,  pregnant women, and children under age 19.  Families have a choice of three participating health plans-Tufts Health Plan, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

RI Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals

The Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals works to guarantee high-quality, safe and accessible health care services through an integrated healthcare landscape in which all Rhode Islanders will thrive.

Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC)

WIC benefits provide you and your child with one-on-one nutrition counseling, referrals with services you may need, and a food prescription to meet your needs, and your child’s specific needs. As long as you are in the WIC program, we will meet with you to celebrate the steps in your child’s growth and learning. Women who apply early in their pregnancy are more likely to have a healthy baby. Children who stay on WIC until the age of five, are better prepared and more likely to succeed in school.

Easterseals Rhode Island

Easterseals Rhode Island provides opportunities for people of all ages with a range of disabilities to achieve their full potential. From early intervention services to employment placement and community supports we help children and adults with disabilities, caregivers, veterans and seniors reach their fullest potential as they live, learn, work and play.

The Arc Rhode Island

The Arc Rhode Island leads state-level public policy activities as well as provides training, public awareness and education, and grassroots advocacy building to protect the rights of Rhode Islanders with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

Rhode Island Early Intervention

Rhode Island’s Early Intervention Program promotes the growth and development of infants and toddlers who have a developmental disability or delay in one or more areas. Developmental disabilities or delays can affect a child’s speech, physical ability, or social skills. Children referred to the Early Intervention Program receive a comprehensive developmental evaluation to determine if they are eligible.  One of the goals of Early Intervention is to provide support to families so their children can develop to their fullest potential. Services are provided in places where children usually play or take part in daily activities.