For Parents & Families
ADVOCACY RESOURCES in Rhode Island
What is Advocacy? The process of asserting oneself or interceding for someone else within a system to get the benefits for which they are eligible. Advocacy can work both through direct aid and through longer-term policy work – always toward a goal of self-empowerment through knowledge of one’s rights.
[Back to Top]
GENERAL ADVOCACY TIPS TO HELP PATIENTS
• Make a telephone call or write a letter to the landlord or agency caseworker. Use the agency’s chain of command to ask questions for the patient.
• Help de-stigmatize the use of government benefits such as food stamps and other resources by encouraging patients to access such services.
• Document patient's need for services on charts.
• Encourage families to reapply or appeal if they were denied services. Appeals are time-sensitive: appeal first, then search for an attorney.
• Help families think about maximizing income by using alternative sources of income support (food stamps, fuel subsidies, child care vouchers, etc.).
[Back to Top]
HOW TO REFER A PATIENT WHO NEEDS ADVOCACY SERVICES
Identify the problem using the Code Card categories.
• ACUTE CRISIS (domestic violence, child abuse) - Refer to a pediatric social worker (401) 444-5258
• NON-ACUTE CRISIS - Refer to Family Help Desk or Family Advocacy
Program (401) 444-3874 (open 1-5, M-Fri)
[Back to Top]
RI Family Advocacy Program
is a medical/legal partnership to improve the health of low income children. An attorney from RI Legal Services spends 2 afternoons/week at Hasbro Children’s Hospital working with patients who have been sent to her by health care providers. Through direct legal services and provider education, RIFAP helps to address root social problems in areas including housing, family law, and public benefits, that cause illness in children.
For information, call 444-3874 or 461-0786
Families are usually eligible for certain benefits if they receive less than the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), which is based on gross income, before taxes and deductions.
[Back to Top]
HEALTH INSURANCE ELIGIBILITY
Families earning <185% FPL and children and pregnant woman earning <250% FPL are eligible for insurance regardless of their immigration status. Make sure ALL your patients are receiving the most complete coverage they can through RIteCARE / RIteSHARE.
[Back to Top]
FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY
Income and resources are used to determine food stamp eligibility. Income includes wages, unemployment benefits, public assistance, pension/social security, and child support, but DOES NOT INCLUDE the value of the home the family lives in, belongings or life insurance policies.
[Back to Top]
TIPS FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
• Families are eligible for food stamps if they are citizens or eligible non-citizens who meet the income/resource guidelines. Undocumented parents can safely access food stamps for citizen children.
• Receipt of food stamps, health insurance, and WIC will not affect a family’s immigration status.
• All families below 185% FPL are eligible for WIC, regardless of immigration status.
• Undocumented persons may be eligible for RIteCare or Medical Assistance.
[Back to Top]
SAMPLE SCREENING QUESTIONS
• How are you making ends meet?
• Do you have enough food to eat?
• Do you have health insurance?
• Are you worried about safety for you/ your child?
• Where are you living and how is the environment in your home?
• Was your home built before 1978?
• Does it have peeling or chipping paint?
• Every couple fights – what are fights like in your home? Do fights ever become physical?
• Have you ever gotten a restraining order against someone?
[Back to Top]
Advocacy & Legal Services
Family Advocacy Program/Family Help Desk: 444-3874
Rhode Island Legal Services: 274-2652
Disability Law Center: 831-3150/800-733-5332
International Institute (Immigration): 461-5940
Lawyer Referral Service: 421-7799
Mental Health Advocate: 462-2003/800-346-2282
Traveler’s Aid: 351-6500/800-367-2700
Volunteer Lawyer Program: 421-7758/800-339-7758
[Back to Top]
Adolescent Resources
Adolescent Clinic/Teen-Tot: 444-5980
Training School medical office: 462-7230/7234
STD/HIV hot line: 800-584-8183
AIDS info: 273-9333
[Back to Top]
Car Seats
Car seat safety: 444-7894
Auto Safety hotline: 800-424-9393
[Back to Top]
Child Abuse and Trauma
DCYF: 1-800-RICHILD
Child Protection (Dr. Jenny): 444-3996
Victims of Crime- 24-hour Crisis Line: 1-800-494-8100
Sexual Assault &Trauma Resource Center of RI: 401-421-4100
(for on-site counseling)
RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 401-467-9940
Women’s Center of RI (shelter): 861-2760
National Battered Women’s Line: 800-799-SAFE
National SIDS support: 800-221-SIDS
[Back to Top]
Child Care
Department of Human Services: 462-1000
DHS low-income working family daycare program: 222-7133
Options for working parents: 272-7510
[Back to Top]
Child Support
Child Support Enforcement Unit: 222-2847
Disability
Disability Law Center: 831-3150/800-733-5332
Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN): 727-4144/800-464-3399
Social Security Administration (SSI, SSDI): 800-772-1213
Family Voices: 727-4144
Federation for Children with Special Needs: 800-331-0688
RI School for the Deaf: 222-3525
RI Dept. for Corrections education Dept.: 462-2507
Bradley Hosp: 432-1000
Butler Hosp: out pt.: 455-6230/ in pt.: 455-6200
[Back to Top]
Domestic Violence (DV) & Sexual Assault:
RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 467-9940
DV/Sexual Assault Unit of the Attorney
General: 274-4400 x2310
Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center of RI: 421-4100
Blackstone Shelter (Blackstone Valley Area): 723-3057
Elizabeth B. Chace House (Kent County): 738-1700
Sojourner House: Providence Hotline: 658-4334
Women’s Center of RI (Greater Providence): 861-2760
Women’s Resource Ctr. of South County: 782-3990
Women’s Resource Ctr. of Newport/Bristol Counties:847-2533
[Back to Top]
Durable Medical Equipment Supplies:
AmCare: 272-0610
Claflin 437-0806
Van Guard: 468-1300
Early Intervention & Head Start:
Family Health info line will help direct parents to nearest resource center: 1-800-942-7434/222-2312
EI: For children (0-3 years) with developmental delays, certain diagnosed conditions, prematurity, or environmental concerns for future developmental problems
Hasbro: 444-3201
Meeting Street (Prov): 438-9500
Groden Center: 274-6310
Trudeau (Central): 823-1731
Head Start (for at risk children 3-7 years): Providence: 272-1760
Child, Inc (Warwick area): 828-2888
New Visions: 846-5454
East Bay/ E. Providence: 437-0018
Tri-Town: 232-5444
Dept. of Education (3-21 years): 222-4600
See IEP
Schools must comply with both: IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (P.L.94-142) & Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for free appropriate education for “qualified handicapped persons”
[Back to Top]
Education
RI Department of Education: 222-4600
RI Parenting Network: 727-4144/800-464-3399
Special Needs Education
Parents Support Network: 467-6855/800-483-8844
Disability Law Center: 831-3150/800-733-5332
[Back to Top]
GED/ ESL
Dorcas Place: 273-8866
Genesis Center: 781-6110
Financial Assistance
Department of Human Services Info line: 462-5300
Department of Labor and Training: 462-8000
Social Security Administration: 800-772-12135
Temporary Disability Insurance: 462-8420
Unemployment Insurance: 243-9100
Workers Compensation: 462-8100
[Back to Top]
Food & Nutrition Resources
Food Stamps
Providence: 222-7000
Northern Rhode Island: 235-6300
Warwick: 738-8900
Southern Rhode Island: 1-800-282-7021
Department of Human Services Info Line- 462-5300 Women, Infants & Children (WIC) food basics for pregnant women and children under 5: 800-942-7434
Department of Health Family Health info line: 1-800-942-7434
RI Community Food Bank: 826-3073 RI Food Bank Website
Traveler’s Aid: 351-6500/800-367-2700
[Back to Top]
Health Insurance
Free health care is not health insurance!
RIteCARE: 462-1300 English; 462-1500 Spanish
Medicaid/SSI: 222-3182
Department of Human Services Info Line: 462-5300
Free/low cost health care at Community Health Centers:
Central Falls: 724-7110 Cranston: 943-1981
Johnston: 351-2750 Pawtucket: 722-0081
Providence 444-0400 (call for local centers)
Woonsocket: 767-4100
[Back to Top]
Housing
Subsidized Housing: Federally funded, privately owned developments; must apply to each development individually
Public Housing: Federally funded, government-run housing; must apply at a Local Housing Authority (LHA) in individual city/town
Section 8: federally funded vouchers used to subsidize rent in privately owned apartments, dispensed by LHAs and other state-appointed agencies such as RI Housing and Mortgage Finance Corp.
HOMES: Healthy Housing Screening Questions:
• Has HOUSING ever been a problem for you?
• Do you spend OVER half your income on rent?
• Do you ever have MOLD, roaches, or MICE at home?
• EVER been tested for lead?
• Do you have a SMOKE detector, window guards and SCREENS?
Code Enforcement: In Providence- 427-7740 call local city/town hall
Office of Housing and Urban Development: 528-5230
Providence Housing Authority: 751-6400
RI Coalition for the Homeless: 421-6458
Traveler’s Aid: 351-6500/800-367-2700
RI Coalition for the Homeless: 421-6458
Rental/Housing Assistance Programs: 528-5370
RI Housing Authority: 751-5566/800-427-5560
[Back to Top]
Lead
Childhood Lead Action Project: 785-1310
Help Lead Safe Center: 421-8595, fax 421-8449
RI Childhood Lead Poisoning Control Prog. : 222-4602
RI Department of Health: 222-2231
Wash toys & hands frequently- before meals, snacks & after playing outside
Discourage child from putting things in mouth; teach them to throw away food that has fallen on ground. Keep them away from dirt, chipped or peeling paint
Offer good diet with foods rich in iron, calcium, Vit. C & low in fat
Use spick & span or trisodium phosphate to clean areas with chipped paint/dust & wash floors, vacuum rugs, wet-wipe furniture at least once per week
Use only COLD tap water for drinking, cooking, & making infant formula. Run water a few minutes before using it.
[Back to Top]
Immigrant and Refugee Resources
The Genesis Center: 781-6110
International Institute:461-5940
Progresso Latino: 728-5920
Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy: 467-0111
Job Resources/Training
NetWORK-RI centers: (Call Prov. for other offices in RI)
Providence: 222-3606
Pawtucket: 722-3100
Newport County Re-employment Center: 847-2038
[Back to Top]
Mental Health
Samaritans: 272-4044/800-365-4044
Community Mental Health Centers:
Northern RI: 766-3330
Gateway (Cranston, Johnston, Northwestern RI): 273-8100/800-274-3501
Comm. Counseling Ctr. (Pawtucket, CF): 722-3560
East Bay: 246-1195
Kent County: 738-4300
Newport County: 846-1213
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI-RI): 331-3060/ 1-800-749-3197
Manic-Depressive & Depressive Assoc. of RI (MDDA): 254-2572/455-6338
URI Family Therapy Clinic: 874-5956
Providence Center: 276-4000 (ask for intake)
Family Services: 331-1350
Children’s Friends & Services: 331-2900
John Hope Settlement: 421-6993/455-2330
Community Counseling Center (Pawtucket): 722-7855
East Bay MHC (Barrington): 246-1195
Kent County MHC (Warwick): 738-4300
RI Mental Health Association: 726-2285
Child Psych at HCH: 444-4515 (in-pt.: 444-8945)
HCH Partial Hospital Program: 444-8638
Bradley Partial Program: 432-1000
[Back to Top]
Emergency Counseling
Comprehensive Emergency Services (CES) for families at imminent risk for abuse, neglect, parental-child conflict, illness of parent:
John Hope Settlement/Prov: 455-2330 (24-hrs)
Pawtucket: 722-6053
Doric Center/Cranston: 467-9610
East Bay: 331-1350/2900
Parenting Classes/Parental Support:
RI Family Works: 800-731-0987
John Hope: 455-2326 or 2330
Parental Support of RI: 800-483-8844
Urban League: 351-5000
Children's Friends & Services: 331-2900
Community Intervention Services/ Providence Center: 276-4020 (intake)
RI Parent Information Network (RIPIN- parents as teachers class): 274-4144/ 800-464-3399
[Back to Top]
Poison Control:
Poison Center - greater Boston area: 800-682-9211
Psychiatric/Emergency Counseling
Comprehensive Emergency Services (CES) for families at imminent risk for abuse, neglect, parental-child conflict, illness of parent:
John Hope Settlement/Prov: 455-2330 (24-hrs)
Pawtucket: 722-6053
Doric Center/Cranston: 467-9610
East Bay: 331-1350/2900
[Back to Top]
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Planned Parenthood of RI: 421-9220/9620
Facts Line: 621-6251
Problem Pregnancy of Providence: 421-0820
RI Department of Health: 1-800-942-7343
AIDS Care Ocean State: 273-1888/521- 3603
RI Department of Health’s HIV and AIDS Information
Hotline: 1-800-726-3010
RI Breast Cancer Coalition: 1-800-216-1040
Substance Abuse:
24-hour Helpline for alcohol and other drug problems: 1-800-622-7422
Alcoholics Anonymous: 1-800-439-8860/ 438-8860
Drug and Alcohol Treatment Association: 521-5759
Narcotics Anonymous: 1-877-461-1110
RI Division of Substance Abuse: 462-4680
SSTAR Detox: 1-800-RI-SOBER (1-800-747-6237)
Alcohol & Drug Dependence & Smoking hotline: 1-800-622-7422 (info and crisis intervention)
RI Alcoholism & Drug Counsel: 721-0410
National Institute on Drug Abuse: 800-638-2045
Alcoholics Anonymous/ E.Prov: 438-8860
Providence Community Action: 272-0660 (13-17)
Providence Center: 276-4020
Family Services: 331-1350
Stonington Adolescent & Adults: 800-832-1022
Kent County MHC: 738-4300/732-5656
East Bay MH: 431-9870
Emergency: 4354-7475
Butler (they do detox):455-6220
Emergency/admit: 455-6215
The Doric Center/Cranston: 781-3990
Adolescent day/outpatient programs: 888-374-7799
Residential: Caritas (females): 722-4644 & Corkery (males): 722-4867
[Back to Top]
Smoking Cessation
RISE (RI stop smoking education for youth) 444-5959/5941
American Lung Association of RI: 421-6487
Miriam’s Center for Behavioral and Preventative Medicine: 793-4305
Utility and Fuel Assistance
Community Action Programs (CAP) – Low Income Energy Assistance Program:
Blackstone Valley Community Action Program: 723- 4520
Comprehensive Community Action, Inc (Cranston): 467-9610
New Visions for Newport County: 847-7821
Providence Community Action Program: 273-2000
Self-Help, Inc (East Bay): 437-1000
South County Community Action: 789-3016
Tri-Town Community Action Agency: 351-2750
West Bay Community Action: 732-4660
Woonsocket Shelter Community Action Program: 767-0866
Public Utilities Commission: 941-4500
Salvation Army – Good Neighbor Fund: 231-8137
[Back to Top]
Youth After-School Alternatives
YMCA: 831-9922
Boys and Girls Clubs: 444-0766 (South Side)
444-0768 (North Providence)
Elmwood Community Center: 461-7940
Individualized Education Programs (IEP)
To: _________ Director of Special Education _________ School
Address of school
Regarding: Student’s name and DOB
Dear Mr./Mrs. __________,
My Daughter/son _____ is currently in __ grade student at the ______school.
I am concerned about my child’s educational difficulties in the following areas: (list them)
I believe that these problems may be interfering with my child’s ability to learn.
Therefore, I am writing to refer my daughter/son ____ to the Multidisciplinary Team for an evaluation. I request that you conduct an individual evaluation to determine whether my child may be in need of special education services.
Please contact me as soon as possible to discuss my referral.
Sincerely:
Name of parent, address, phone#
(copies also to school prinicpal and classroom teacher)
[Back to Top]
Advocacy Letter Requesting Services
An advocacy letter should contain the following elements:
1. Specific nature of the problem
2. The rule, law or requirment that applies to the problem
3. How the specific problem and the rule that applies to it relate to the patient’s condition
4. Request for action
Example:
Dear Landlord,
I am writing to request that you fix the leaky radiator pipes in Jane’s appartment. Jane is my patient and lives at 123 Moldy Way. Jane is an asthmatic and allergic to molds. A board of health inspection found molds in the bedr6oom. The inspector found that the leaky pipes caused the mold.
Jane’s asthma is worsened by her allergy to mold. Mold can cause a restriction of her airways, which can lead to hospitalization or death.
The Local board of health requires that all leased housing be free of chronic dampness. According to Jane’s mother, the radiators leak constantly and the walls are covered with mold. The mold in the apartment therefore violates the law against chronic dampness in addition to significantly worsening Jane’s health. I request that you immediately remedy this problem by fixing the leaky radiators.
Please contact me at 000-0000 if you have any questions. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely
Concerned Doc, MD
[Back to Top]
|