Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Resources for Children, Families and Community
In Crisis?
Girl by herself in school classroom deep in thought.

Cause for concern,

or typical behavior?

Child being stressed and blocking her ears with her hands.

A phase,

or something more?

Teen sitting up against a fence thinking about something.

Reason to worry,

or simply a teen?

Baby crying

A single incident,

or a concerning pattern?

Behavioral Health Services for Children and Youth

Many Rhode Island parents and caregivers find that they need to help a child in their care handle a wide range of struggles, such as interpersonal challenges, challenges at school, using substances, etc. If you're experiencing this, know that you are not alone — and know that helpful resources are available.

Helping a child can be overwhelming at times. That’s why we talked with clinicians, behavioral health professionals, and — most importantly — caregivers who have faced the same kinds of challenges. Their input helped us create this collection, so families don’t have to start from scratch when facing a new challenge.

Please use this information to guide you in finding support, resources, and answers to many of your questions.

Resources

What to do in an emergency or crisis What’s behind your child's behavior? Knowing what to look for: What are the signs? Communicating with your pediatrician or family doctor Connecting with a parent support group Getting an evaluation and care plan, if needed
Working with your child’s school Finding a counselor or therapist for your child Creating a crisis plan Getting help with substance use Insurance and other ways to pay for help Additional tips and resources