Why Recognition Matters

For LGBTQIA+ individuals, being recognized—by their families, schools, workplaces, and communities—can be transformative. Affirmation of gender identity and sexual orientation is linked to lower rates of depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicide. Yet too often, LGBTQIA+ people face discrimination, marginalization, and systemic barriers to care, housing, and employment.

Recognition goes beyond mere tolerance. It means seeing LGBTQIA+ people as full and equal members of society, with unique experiences and contributions. It means creating space for their voices, respecting their pronouns and identities, and ensuring inclusive access to services and support.

The Impact on Individuals

When someone is misgendered or told their identity doesn’t matter, it chips away at their sense of self-worth and belonging. For youth in particular, being told—directly or indirectly—that their identity is “wrong” can lead to lasting trauma. On the other hand, when we affirm LGBTQIA+ identities, we tell people they are worthy of love, respect, and care. That simple affirmation can change a life—and sometimes save it.

Our Commitment

At FSRI, we believe that true equity means meeting people where they are and recognizing the diverse identities that shape their lived experience. That includes race, ethnicity, ability, and it most certainly includes sexual orientation and gender identity.

Whether we are providing trauma-informed mental health care, supporting families in crisis, or advocating for systemic change, we are committed to creating safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQIA+ clients, staff, and community members.

We know that advancing equity means more than words—it requires action. That’s why we invest in culturally responsive care, ongoing staff training, and partnerships with LGBTQIA+ organizations and advocates. We are proud to walk alongside those working to ensure every person, regardless of their identity, has the opportunity to live with dignity, access resources, and find hope.

We are also proud to be a sponsor of Rhode Island Pride and excited to join the community at this year’s PrideFest on June 21. Events like PrideFest celebrate visibility, joy, and solidarity—values that reflect our commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable Rhode Island for all. See you there!

We are turning to you—our donors, partners, and friends—to help us bridge the gap and ensure that vulnerable children, the LGBTQ+ community, veterans and young working families have the support they need to thrive even in the face of future instability or unreliability in federal aid sources.

Family Service of Rhode Island exists to serve those most at risk—like parents working tirelessly to provide for their children and struggling to find stability, or teens seeking a safe place to turn and many more. These are human lives, not statistics or figures on a balance sheet. They are our neighbors and given the collective actions and rhetoric exhibited in the initial days of this new White House administration, they are facing a whole new level of uncertainty and fear.

Our mission—to advance equity, opportunity, and hope—stands in stark contrast to policies and platforms that threaten the well-being of the very people we serve. Yet, while policy is at the forefront of everyone’s minds with these recent federal actions, we must persist in keeping the people we serve front and center.

This is a wake-up call. The need is urgent, and we cannot do this alone. Your support today can mean the difference between stability and crisis for families in Rhode Island.

Please, stand with us. Donate today to help us ensure stability and continuity of this critical work.

With gratitude,

Margaret Holland McDuff
Chief Executive Officer
Family Service of Rhode Island

This year, the need remains just as urgent. Rising costs and ongoing challenges mean more families are reaching out to Family Service of Rhode Island (FSRI) for help. And once again, we’re asking you to make it possible to bring joy, hope, and empowerment to children and families who need it most.

Here’s how you can give the gift of hope this holiday season:

Gift Cards

The Most Empowering Gift: By giving a gift card, you allow parents the dignity of choosing exactly what their children need—whether it’s clothing, essentials, or the perfect toy that brings a smile.

• Gift Card Wishlist

Specific Gifts by Age Group

Fulfill the wishes of children at every stage of childhood:

• Early Childhood Wishlist
• Teen Wishlist

Make a Donation

Your contribution helps us bring light and joy to families who might otherwise go without:

• Donate Here

Last year, your generosity helped fulfill the wishes of every child who came to us for support. This year, we know that the need will be just as great, and we need your help to make this happen again.

You can be the reason children in Rhode Island wake up with smiles on their faces, knowing they are loved and cared for by their community. Together, we can continue to make the holidays magical for those who need it most.

Thank you for being the heart of this effort. Because of you, brighter days are possible for the families we serve.

October marks LGBTQ History Month, a time to reflect on the contributions, challenges, and triumphs of LGBTQ individuals throughout history. It’s an opportunity to recognize the courageous trailblazers who have fought for equality, visibility, and inclusion, and to celebrate the progress that has been made toward a more just and equitable society.

LGBTQ History Month allows us to honor the achievements of individuals who have not only shaped the world in fields such as culture, politics, science, and the arts, but have also championed human rights and equality for all. From the bravery of activists during the Stonewall Riots to the modern legal victories that have advanced LGBTQ rights, this month serves as a reminder that the journey for equality is ongoing—and it is one that involves us all.

At Family Service of Rhode Island, we are committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment where all people are respected, valued, and empowered. In alignment with this commitment, we are proud to announce that we have achieved Safe Zone Certification through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island. This certification reflects our dedication to creating an affirming and supportive space for LGBTQ clients, staff, and community members.

Safe Zone Certifications

Safe Zone Certification demonstrates that our team has completed specialized training to enhance our understanding of the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals. It also ensures that we are providing services that are culturally competent and inclusive of all identities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or background.

As we celebrate LGBTQ History Month and embrace the importance of equality and inclusion, Family Service of Rhode Island remains committed to serving our community with compassion and care. Our Safe Zone Certification is one step in our continued efforts to ensure that our workplace and services provide a safe and affirming environment for all.

Let’s use this month to educate ourselves, honor those who have fought for LGBTQ rights, and continue advocating for a brighter, more inclusive future.

If you are interested in learning more about the Safe Zone certification through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, visit: https://www.bcbsri.com/safezones

Official Safe Zone Press Release: https://www.bcbsri.com/newsroom/press-releases/bcbsri-certifies-22-new-sites-lgbtq-safe-zones-bringing-total-more-130

Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Contact: Ben Smith

Rhode Island Coalition for Children and Families Calls for Immediate Action in Response to Crisis of Child Fatalities and Near Fatalities

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Coalition for Children and Families (RICCF) is calling on Governor McKee and the General Assembly to take immediate action in response to the alarming rise in child fatalities and near fatalities in Rhode Island. RICCF urges state leaders to recognize the crisis, take action, and invest in the policies, programs, and services that increase the ability of children and families to access necessary social, mental health, and substance use support services.

“The safety and well-being of our children and youth are at grave risk, and the collective challenges they face demand immediate attention,” said Tanja Kubas-Meyer, Executive Director of RICCF. “The Rhode Island Coalition for Children and Families implores Governor McKee and the General Assembly to recognize the urgency of this situation by strengthening our state’s network of high-quality services and support systems for children and families. For children facing adverse circumstances such as poverty, exposure to violence, mental health, or substance use crises, having access to crisis response and ongoing supportive services can be the difference between life and death.”

RICCF calls on the Governor, agency directors, and state leaders to collaborate on an integrated and interdisciplinary action plan incorporating the input of policymakers, state agencies, academic and research institutions, medical professionals, experts, people with lived experiences, and community service providers to address this crisis. This action plan will serve as a comprehensive blueprint to rebuild and strengthen Rhode Island’s broken child safety net, aimed at addressing the root causes of these tragedies and ensuring the safety and well-being of Rhode Island’s children and youth.

“I have been a child advocate in Rhode Island for decades, and never before have I witnessed such a staggering number of tragedies without a clear plan of action to prevent further harm,” said Darlene Allen, CEO, and Executive Director of Adoption RI and Chairperson of the board of RICCF. “We cannot afford to stand idly by while our children suffer.”

“I witness firsthand the despair and hopelessness that many of the youth we serve are grappling with,” said Lauri Smalls, Executive Director of Turning the Corner Residential Treatment Programs and Vice Chair of the board of RICCF. “The urgency for intervention and support cannot be overstated. We must act swiftly and decisively to provide these young individuals with the necessary resources and assistance to overcome their challenges and find hope for the future.”

The ages of the affected children range from infancy to adolescence, and the underlying causes are diverse. While the specifics of each case vary, contributing factors to these tragic incidents include substance abuse, mental health needs, interpersonal violence, housing instability, unsafe sleep practices, and the proliferation of firearms in our communities. Sadly, RICCF expects there to be many more cases of child fatalities and near fatalities that are not captured in the data currently available from the state.

“We’ve reached a critical juncture where the tragic deaths of children have become all too common, and it’s clear that we’ve grown numb to these heartbreaking losses,” said Margaret Holland McDuff, President and CEO of Family Service of Rhode Island and Government Relations Committee Chair of RICCF. “The fraying of our children’s well-being safety net has reached a point where children are falling through the cracks in the system, leading to disastrous outcomes. We must confront this reality head-on and take urgent action to rebuild and strengthen our systems of support for Rhode Island’s children and families.”

RICCF acknowledges that addressing the crisis in children’s and family behavioral health requires a collaborative effort involving a mobilization of interagency and cross-sector resources encompassing public health, child protection, behavioral health, education, and more. Addressing this issue demands a comprehensive, coordinated approach across all sectors to effectively support the needs of all Rhode Island’s children and families regardless of demographics, status, and background.

“There is a critical need for more holistic, community-based supports that address the underlying factors contributing to children’s health and safety,” said Beth Lemme Bixby, President and CEO of Tides Family Services and board member of RICCF. “Investing in crisis intervention and ongoing supports is not only a compassionate response to children in immediate need but also a cost-effective solution that benefits our communities as a whole.”

Notices of fatalities and near fatalities by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families since June 2023:

• April 15, 2024: public disclosure notice about the fatality of a youth.
• April 12, 2024: public disclosure notice about the fatality of a child.
• April 8, 2024: public disclosure notice about the fatality of a youth.
• April 5, 2024: public disclosure notice about the fatality of a child.
• March 31, 2024: public disclosure notice about the near fatality of a child.
• March 6, 2024: public disclosure notice about the near fatality of a child.
• February 2, 2024: public disclosure notice about the fatality of a youth .
• January 18, 2024: public disclosure notice about the near fatality of a youth.
• November 8, 2023: public disclosure notice about the near fatality of a child.
• October 22, 2023: public disclosure notice about the fatality of a youth.
• October 19, 2023: public disclosure notice about the near fatality of a youth.
• October 18, 2023: public disclosure notice about the near fatality of a child.
• October 11, 2023: public disclosure notice about the near fatality of a youth.
• October 7, 2023: public disclosure notice about the near fatality of a youth.
• September 21, 2023: public disclosure notice about the fatality of a child.
• August 2, 2023: public disclosure notice about the fatality of a child.
• July 31, 2023: public disclosure notice about the near fatality of a child.
• July 17, 2023: public disclosure notice about the fatality of a youth.
• June 30, 2023: public disclosure notice about the near fatalities of two children.  
• June 27, 2023: public disclosure notice about the near fatality of a child.
• June 23, 2023: public disclosure notice about the near fatality of a child.
• June 16, 2023: public disclosure notice about the near fatality of a child.
• June 3, 2023: public disclosure notice about the fatality of an infant.

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A little-known but vitally important program could end this summer if the Rhode Island General Assembly doesn’t act.

The First Connections program, administered by the Department of Health, is Rhode Island’s emergency response and triage team for families with young children, as well as the federally required child find entity for Early Intervention services. The program provides free, voluntary home visiting services for approximately 3,000 families a year and costs the state only $1 million a year.

Families are referred to First Connections in a number of ways: the state’s birthing hospitals send referrals for families they have identified who may need extra support; the Department of Children, Youth & Families refers every family, and foster family, who has a child in their care under age 3, for supports and screenings; pediatricians make referrals to have First Connections connect their patients with resources and to find children who have not returned for medical care; and parents themselves who reach out to the Department of Health for help are directly referred. First Connections casts the widest net of any program for our youngest children at most risk. According to data presented at last month’s Children’s Cabinet, one in four (25 percent) of children under age 2 are enrolled in First Connections, more than any other program, except Medicaid.

Once referred, nurses, social workers, and community health workers visit families in their homes to ensure that babies are safe and that parents have the skills, resources, and connections they need so their children can thrive.

First Connections staff are tasked not only with child medical assessments and connecting families with a medical home, but they also conduct home safety checks, screen for social determinants of health, domestic violence, substance use, screening for depression and anxiety, as well as other behavioral health needs. Staff also perform developmental screenings for children in the home and are the gateway to connect families with longer term programs such as Early Intervention services, long-term home visiting, Head Start, and child outreach. Data has shown that families who engage with long-term program supports are less likely to have future DCYF involvement. The First Connections program also assists families with obtaining resources for food insecurity, diapers and clothing, job training, and housing instability.

First Connections is funded through Medicaid and the Department of Health and has not had a permanent rate increase in 23 years. For the last two years, the state has used American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide a temporary rate increase which allowed us providers to continue to offer the services to families this year. However, Governor McKee’s fiscal year 2025 budget proposal to implement only a third of the rate review amount recommended by the Office of Health Insurance Commissioner starting on Oct. 1 will mean that the reimbursement rates for this program will be cut by 70 percent on July 1. None of our four nonprofit agencies that administer these services can continue these vital services with such a low reimbursement.

This program not only saves lives, but it saves Rhode Island money: 100 percent of families who get a home visit learn about safe sleep and other lifesaving measures. The program reduces emergency room visits by reducing the likelihood of harm and increasing the likelihood of regular well-child visits and immunizations. And the program leads to less longer-term involvement with DCYF.

The state needs this program to meet its federal requirements and to serve the families it is required to serve. We need Rhode Island to continue the current reimbursement rates for First Connections, and not go back to the rates of 23 years ago. Legislation introduced by Representative Joshua J. Giraldo and Senator Bridget Valverde will keep the much-needed rates. First Connections saves lives; please save First Connections.

David Caprio is president and chief executive officer of Children’s Friend; Jennifer Fairbank is the chief executive officer of Visiting Nurses Home and Hospice; Benedict Lessing is the chief executive officer at Community Care Alliance; and Margaret Holland McDuff is the chief executive officer of Family Service of Rhode Island.

So many of us have struggled through these last few difficult years. Now just imagine what it’s been like for our kids. These mental health stressors have hit our Rhode Island children especially hard– collateral damage of the uncertainty and isolation of COVID-19.

One out of every 3 kids is facing a serious mental health challenge– and all too often, help is not available.

We cannot sit still or stay silent.

We must act now!

So this year we’re doubling down on our efforts to end the children’s mental health crisis in Rhode Island, and making it our number one priority. And we’re asking you to join us.

We plan to expand our Children’s Mobile Crisis program, which provides immediate assistance to kids where and when they need it– 24/7.

Beyond offering acute care from our outpatient clinic at 55 Hope Street, we are rapidly expanding our staff to meet the needs of communities, schools, and homes– eliminating the lack of transportation as a barrier to care. We are committed to ensuring each family is able to connect with the services they need to thrive.

FSRI will be here for RI kids this year and always– and we hope you will be here for us. Will you help us get the word out about the crisis? Will you reach out to your personal and professional network to support this work? Will you volunteer with us? Will you make a donation today?

We realize that money is tight right now for so many– but we are hoping that many can give a little so that all can benefit a lot. Will you donate $50, $100, $500, or $1,000 to help OUR kids?

Right now, you can help end this crisis by ensuring that children who are suffering receive the support they need.  #JoinFSRI

With love and kindness for all,

Margaret Holland McDuff

You’ve stuck with us through thick and thin these last few years, helping your neighbors get through the toughest times of their lives, and we are so grateful for you!

This year we’re striving for a little less stress and A LOT more love–  we’re making this happen by supporting kids’ emotional wellness.

Did you know 50% more RI kids need help with anxiety, stress, depression, and loss since the pandemic? We’re frustrated that there are not enough therapists to meet this need.

We all know the mental health of our children is far too important to ignore– and FSRI is making this our primary focus in 2023.

Join us.

• Sign up to receive FSRI text messages
• Sign up to receive our monthly newsletter
• Sign up to volunteer with us
• Work with us