Best Start Rhode Island is an intensive, six-month program that helps families with young children strengthen family stability, safety, health, and well-being. Services are provided in the family’s home or another comfortable community setting.
Each family works with a multidisciplinary team that may include a Certified Community Health Worker, Pediatric Registered Nurse, and Licensed Clinician. Services are individualized and may include family assessments, care planning, developmental and behavioral health screenings, parenting support, health and home-safety education, care coordination, and connections to community resources.
The program does not accept self-referrals or direct referrals from families or community providers.
Families referred by DCYF/FCCP who have a child from birth through age 6 and need additional support to maintain family stability, prevent removal, prepare for reunification, or achieve permanency. Families may also benefit from parenting support, care coordination, health education, developmental screening, or connections to community resources.
Best Start RI is available statewide.
Referrals for Best Start RI are only accepted through the Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) Central Referral Unit (CRU) and the Family Care Community Partnership (FCCP). The program does not accept self-referrals or direct referrals from families or community providers.