Not in Providence County? There are Community Action Agencies that serve every RI Community. Click below to find the CAA nearest you!

RICAA Agency List

Behavioral/Mental Health

• Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH)
  BHDDH administers a system of care that provides services for more than 50,000 Rhode Islanders with mental health and substance abuse issues, developmental disabilities, and chronic long-term medical and psychiatric conditions.
• BH Link
  BH Link is a behavioral health facility designed to provide immediate assistance to a person in crisis by providing innovative crisis intervention services, and connecting people to ongoing treatment and care. Services are provided by our professional team of registered nurses, counselors, psychiatrists, phone screeners, and peer specialists. Our clinicians will listen to clients’ concerns and take the necessary steps to get people through their crisis, and help make connections to longer term services if needed.
• Luna Counseling & Community Care
  LUNA Community Care is a cooperative childcare center that serves disabled parents and the families of disabled children by providing wraparound services including case management, crisis support, peer groups, job training, co-working space and online and in person care communities (Village Nurture).
• NAMI
  NAMI Rhode Island is a State Organization affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). We offer an array of education and training programs and services for consumers, family members, schools, providers and the general public. These programs draw on the experience of mental health consumers and family members who have learned to live well with their illnesses and are eager to help others, as well as the expertise of mental health professionals and educators.
• CDC -- Article on Anxiety and Stress Management
• CDC -- Article on Maintaining Emotional Health
• WHO -- "Mental Health considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak"

Domestic Violence (see also: Shelters)

• Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence
  The purpose of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence is to eliminate domestic violence in Rhode Island. Their mission is to support and enhance the work of our member agencies and to provide leadership on the issue of domestic violence.
• Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County
  The Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County (DVRCSC) is a nonprofit agency that works toward a future free of violence, and to build a community in which each individual shares the responsibility to create a culture of safety and personal dignity.
• Women's Resource Center
  Since 1977, Women’s Resource Center (WRC) has been a listening ear, a helping hand and in some cases, a lifeline to individuals experiencing domestic violence.
• Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center
  Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center is an essential community agency providing a comprehensive approach to ending domestic violence while supporting victims and the greater community through education, advocacy and therapeutic services.
• Sojourner House
  For over 45 years, Sojourner House has served thousands of victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and human trafficking. Thanks to our supporters, we are able to offer wraparound services such as support groups, emergency shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing, sexual health advocacy, and emotional support.

Education

• Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE)
  To create and support great schools and programs RIDE works with communities, families, civic leaders, and all educators so that Rhode Island leads the way in public education.
• USA Learns! - ESL Online
  Learn English free online at USA Learns! Fun videos and activities teach basic and intermediate ESL to adults around the world.
• GFCLearnFree.org
  For more than a decade, the GCFLearnFree.org program has helped millions around the world learn the essential skills they need to live and work in the 21st century. From Microsoft Office and email to reading, math, and more, GCFLearnFree.org offers 125 tutorials, including more than 1,100 lessons, videos, and interactives, completely free.
• Khan Academy
  Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. They tackle math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more.

Educational Activities for Kids/Teens

• Highlights at Home
• Downloadable Activities -- from Junior Achievement
• Educational Resources
• Smithsonian Institution Online
• Free Virtual Museum Tours
• More Virtual Museum Tours
• Thrive Global
• Zoo School -- Roger Williams Zoo

Elder Needs

• Caring.com
  In order to find the states that are most friendly to seniors and offer the highest quality of life, Caring.com’s Senior Living Report graded every state in the U.S. across six different categories, using 70 individual metrics. Below you can see how Rhode Island compared to the rest of the nation.
• RI Office of Healthy Aging
  Formerly the Department of Elderly Affairs, we partner with organizations throughout Rhode Island to connect you with information and resources that help you age strong. And we advocate for laws, policies and investments that protect your rights and agency. In 2019, we served more than 150,000 Rhode Islanders.

Employment Resources

• RI Department of Labor and Training - Unemployment Benefits
  The RI Department of Labor and Training oversees various benefit programs for Rhode Island workers and employers.
• netWORKri
  Rhode Island's One-Stop Career Center System is a proud partner of American Job Center network. The netWORKri centers are conveniently located throughout the state where jobseekers and employers are matched through quality employment programs and services.

Financial Empowerment

• BOOST! Financial Empowerment
  NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley (NWBRV) offers the BOOST! Financial Empowerment program. Get help to better manage your money, set and meet financial goals, track expenses, obtain and use credit wisely, set up checking and savings accounts, and much more. The team of NeighborWorks America and H.U.D. credentialed coaches will meet you where you are and get you on the path to achieving your financial dreams.
• The Economic Progress Institute
  The Economic Progress Institute - formerly The Poverty Institute - is a nonpartisan research and policy organization dedicated to improving the economic well-being of low- and modest-income Rhode Islanders.

Food

• RI Community Food Bank
  The Rhode Island Community Food Bank distributes food to people in need through a statewide network of 168 member agencies. These agencies include food pantries, meal sites, shelters, youth programs and senior centers.
• RI Delivers
  Rhode Islanders’ connection to help for those living in quarantine or isolation due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Homeowners' Resources

• Free Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
  All residents and visitors should be protected by smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Through grants awarded to the Providence Fire Department, the City of Providence is able to offer free smoke detectors (and carbon monoxide detectors when available) to low income and handicapped residents of one, two and three family houses in Providence.

Legal Services

• Rhode Island Public Defender
  Our mission is to provide high quality representation to our clients, fulfilling the governmental obligation of effective assistance of counsel, fundamental fairness and due process. Our goal is to provide client-centered advice, holistic representation and zealous advocacy. Our commitment is to treat our clients with dignity, compassion and fairness.
• RI Legal Services
  Rhode Island Legal Services provides high quality legal assistance and representation to low-income individuals and eligible client groups.

LGBTQAAI+ Community & Allies

• GLAD
  Through strategic litigation, public policy advocacy, and education, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders works in New England and nationally to create a just society free of discrimination based on gender identity and expression, HIV status, and sexual orientation.
• Youth Pride
  Youth Pride, Inc. is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of youth and young adults impacted by sexual orientation and gender identity/expression while working to end the homophobic and transphobic environments in which they live, work and play.
• PFLAG
  The Greater Providence area chapter of PFLAG, formerly known as Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. We provide support, education and advocacy for parents, families, friends and allies of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people across Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and Eastern Connecticut.
• Human Rights Campaign
  The Human Rights Campaign fights for LGBTQ equality alongside lawmakers at the local and state levels across the country. Find out what HRC is doing in Rhode Island and how you can help secure equal rights for all of its LGBTQ citizens.

• The Trevor Project
  The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people.

Medical Care

• Department of Health
  The Rhode Island Department of Health's mission is to prevent disease and protect and promote the health and safety of the people of Rhode Island.
• RI Free Clinic
  Founded in 1999, the Rhode Island Free Clinic’s mission is to provide free, comprehensive medical care and preventive health services to adults who have no health insurance and cannot afford those services; and to serve as an educational training site for aspiring health care professionals.

Sexual Assault & Sex Trafficking

• Day One
  Day One is the only agency in Rhode Island that is specifically organized to deal with issues of sexual assault as a community concern. We provide treatment, intervention, education, advocacy, and prevention services to Rhode Islanders of all ages—from preschool children to elder adults. Additionally, we advocate for public policy initiatives and systemic changes that positively impact how Rhode Island families handle sexual abuse cases.
• Project Weber/RENEW
  Since it's founding, Project Weber enrolled 263 men, providing peer-led street outreach, basic needs, HIV prevention and testing, needle exchange, and support groups. Since 2006 RENEW served over 1000 women, providing peer-led street outreach, basic needs, HIV prevention and testing, and case management.

Sexual Health

• Planned Parenthood
  Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.

• SHIP
  A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing culturally inclusive, medically accurate, and pleasure guided sexuality education, therapy, and professional training to adults.

Shelters

• Amos House
• Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center
• Crossroads RI
• Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County
• Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center
• House of Hope CDC
• Lucy's Hearth
• RI Coalition to End Homelessness
• Sojourner House
• Warm Center
• Welcome House
• Women's Resource Center

Substance Use & Recovery

• CODAC
  CODAC's mission is to provide the highest standard of behavioral health services in a recovery-oriented system of care.
• Community Care Alliance
  There are different types of mental illness, severity of symptoms, and coinciding problems, and each person's experiences are different. Working closely with our mental health professionals, you are an active participant in your treatment plan.
• AA Meetings (virtual)
• Help.org
  For assistance finding a rehab facility in Rhode Island and other rehabilitation-related resources.
• Recognizing Signs of Substance/Alcohol Abuse in Elders
  Substance abuse in the elderly is more common than you think. We’re typically concerned about controlling drugs and alcohol in younger populations. While this is important, we neglect to help an entire age group at times. Addiction in senior citizens is something serious we all need to talk about.
• Prevent Overdose RI
  PORI is an initiative of the Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo's Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force, in collaboration with the RI Department of Health (RIDOH), the RI Department of Behavioral Healthcare and Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH), and Brown University School of Public Health.
• Project Weber/RENEW
  Since it's founding, Project Weber enrolled 263 men, providing peer-led street outreach, basic needs, HIV prevention and testing, needle exchange, and support groups. Since 2006 RENEW served over 1000 women, providing peer-led street outreach, basic needs, HIV prevention and testing, and case management.
• Substance Use & Mental Health Leadership Council
  The mission of the Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council of RI is to promote a collaborative, coordinated system of high quality, comprehensive community-based mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services.
• VICTA
  VICTA includes a dedicated and talented team that include Board Certified Addiction Medicine Medical Director, PhD Psychologist, Master level licensed clinicians, RN nursing staff and case managers. Together they offer a combined experience of over 100 years of expertise in the treatment of addiction and mental health.

Suicide Prevention

• Samaritans of RI
  Within the belief that suicide is generally preventable, the mission of The Samaritans is to help reduce the incidents of suicide in Rhode Island through greater access to information and resources. To achieve this mission, The Samaritans recognizes that suicide prevention is a process involving many community resources.
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center
  The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) is the only federally supported resource center devoted to advancing the implementation of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. SPRC is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Veterans Affairs

• Division of Veterans Affairs
  Resources and information to help personnel and their survivors and dependents by providing a wide range of social, medical, rehabilitative and burial services.

Youth Services

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