Family Service of Rhode Island (FSRI) is proud to announce the renaming of its residential home known as Sakonnet House as The Holland House, in honor of CEO Margaret Holland McDuff’s 35 years of visionary leadership and service to Rhode Island children and families.
Our residential programs provide safe, nurturing, and trauma-informed care for youth who have experienced significant challenges in their young lives. The program’s history reflects FSRI’s deep commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our community. The original residence—known as the Sakonnet House—was established in Bristol, Rhode Island, as a healing environment designed to support youth with dignity, compassion, and care.
As community needs grew, FSRI relocated the program to another Rhode Island town to better serve its mission. This move provided a more suitable space, ensuring the youth in our care have access to a safe, supportive, and therapeutic home where they can begin to heal and thrive.
Now, with the renaming of Sakonnet House, The Holland House stands as a testament not only to the resilience of the youth served but also to the dedication of Margaret Holland McDuff. For more than three decades, Margaret has guided FSRI with unwavering commitment to equity, compassion, and innovation. Her leadership has transformed the agency into a statewide leader in behavioral health, family support, and trauma-informed care.
“Renaming this home in Margaret’s honor is a way to ensure that her legacy of compassion and advocacy lives on in the daily lives of the youth that stay at the Holland House, said Ben Weiner, FSRI’s Chief Operating Officer.
The Holland House is more than a residence—it is a place of healing, growth, and possibility, made stronger by the vision and leadership that Margaret Holland McDuff has brought to FSRI for 35 years.
