Children’s Friend Secures a 2.5 Million Dollar Federal Grant, Expands Project Connect Statewide.

Children’s Friend held a press conference on January 8 to announce it has secured a 5 year, 2.5 million dollar grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services. This funding will expand the Project Connect program currently available in only six communities, to the entire State of Rhode Island and will increase the capacity of the program to serve 90 families affected by substance abuse.

Project Connect, a program of Children’s Friend, is a comprehensive community based intervention program that provides intensive home-based treatment and referral services to high-risk families who are affected by parental substance abuse and are involved in the child welfare system.

Project Connect goals are to expand a proven, evidence-based comprehensive community-based program statewide for substance-affected families involved in the child welfare system; to establish a coordinated, system-wide response and training program for child welfare and community providers regarding children and families affected by parent’s use of methamphetamine and other substances; and to increase service coordination throughout Rhode Island between the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families, substance abuse treatment providers, the medical community, the courts, and community-based providers.

Dignitaries attending the press conference were United States Senator Jack Reed, United States Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts, Attorney General Patrick Lynch, General Treasurer Frank Caprio, DCYF Director Patricia Martinez.