Bring in the Outdoor Decorations!

I was in a store in Providence this morning and mentioned to the check-out person that there may be a big storm coming Monday. 

Really? he said.  Although he knew something was brewing down south, he didn't think it would affect Rhode Island.

Apparently something is going to happen Monday.  Maybe a hurricane...

Here's a link to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency.  They have some tips on what to do at this stage of the game.

Let's keep our fingers crossed....

--Stephen L. Hug

Barry's Auto Group Supports Infant CPR Training

Staff and families working with Family Service of Rhode Island will be able to learn infant cardio-pulmonary resuscitation with realistic infant manikins thanks to Barry’s Auto Group in Newport.

 Family Service of Rhode Island  will utilize the infant manikins to train staff providing care for infants as well the agency’s foster parents.

“We are pleased to help Family Service of Rhode Island, an outstanding agency that is building brighter futures for needy children and families in Rhode Island,” said Peter Barry, dealer principal at Barry’s. “This is part of Barry’s ongoing commitment to give back to the community.”

The infant manikins, obtained from the National Automotive Dealers Charitable Foundation with Barry’s support, has features that provide trainees realistic experience in helping an infant whose breathing is blocked or needs to be resuscitated.

“Barry’s community commitment means we’ll have a better training tool to save young lives,” said Greg Wright, Family Service of Rhode Island’s foster care coordinator. “We deeply appreciate their assistance, and look forward to working with them in the future.”

 

Staff from Barry’s Auto Group and Family Service of Rhode Island display new infant manikins to be used to train Family Service of Rhode Island staff and foster parents in life-saving techniques. Left to Right: Lucas Barry, Barry’s vice president of operations; Greg Wright, Family Service of Rhode Island foster parent coordinator; Kristen Conklin, clinician in Family Service of Rhode Island’s foster parent program; and Peter Barry, Barry’s dealer principal.

Need Help with a College Application?

Struggling with a college application?  Senator Jack Reed is offering help.  More here.

Job Fairs for Fee-for-Service Clinicians Next Week

If you're a fee-for-service clinician, this may be a great opportunity!

For more information, please click here.

Exercise Program for 50+ Living with HIV

AIDS Project RI has rolled out a free exercise program for people over 50 living with HIV.

The program, Positive Aging and Living, is being offered in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Providence through a grant from Tufts Healthcare Foundation.

The first exercise class was rolled out in early September at the Mt. Hope/East Side YMCA. The class has two instructors and twelve participants who meet weekly for two 75-minute sessions.

The classes are structured so all participants get a chance to engage in aerobics, strength training, and balance activities under the supervision of a YMCA fitness instructor. The class is conducted for three months and during that time participants have a membership at the YMCA and access to the gym to exercise on their own time.

Exercise can help increase muscle mass, improve appetite, and increase the number of "feel-good" neurotransmitters in the brain. Exercise is an effective way to reduce stress, and chronic stress has been associated with suppression of immune function. Exercise can also play a vital role in controlling some of the long-term effects of HIV drugs.

Anyone interested in enrolling should email james@aidsprojectri.org.

AIDS Project RI is a division of Family Service of RI.

Are You Participating in a United Way Campaign?

If you're participating in a United Way campaign in your workplace, please consider designating to Family Service of Rhode Island.

On the United Way form in Rhode Island you'll see a section called "My Annual Gift."  Just below that there's a place to put the agency name and address.  In that area, please put:

Family Service of Rhode Island

134 Thurbers Avenue

Providence, Rhode Island 02905

You may designate all or a portion of your United Way contribution to Family Service of Rhode Island.

Essentially, the way it works is that you donate to the United Way, which in turn distributes donations to designated non-profits like Family Service of Rhode Island.

If you use the payroll deduction option, it's a great way to donate a lot without doing it all at once. For example, if you have 26 pay periods a year, a $10 payroll deduction turns into a $260 donation!

Thank you for your interest in Family Service of Rhode Island and thank you for supporting our work!

--Stephen L. Hug

A Great Month To Learn About Foster Parenting

Children in Rhode Island need loving homes. 

And if you've ever thought about becoming a foster parent, it's never been easier.

Family Service of RI is out in the community throughout the month at businesses, YMCAs and libraries.

Check out the schedule here.

Or email wrightgr@familyserviceri.org or call 401-331-1350 ext. 3305.

Also, check out our new foster parent inquiry form here.

If you're out and about, watch for this table below!!

This Weekend in Johnston

If you happen to be at the Mohr Memorial Library in Johnston between 2 and 3:30 on Saturday, stop by and say hi to Greg Wright.

He will be there talking to people about how to become foster parents.

If you can't make it, but are interested--there are children waiting for loving homes--call Greg at Family Service of RI on Monday at 331-1350 ext. 3305 or email him at wrightgr@familyserviceri.org.

As we like to say: Some day a child will thank you!

P.S. We just created an on-line foster care inquiry form.  Check it out here.

--Stephen L. Hug

A Child Will Thank You!

Great time of year to get out and enjoy the weather!

Are you heading to the Pawtuxet Village Autumn Festival on Saturday? Learn how to become a Foster Care Parent from 9 to noon. Family Service of RI's Greg Wright will be there.

Just stop by, or reach Greg at wrightgr@familyserviceri.org or call him at 331-1350 ext. 3305.

Children are waiting for loving, nurturing homes. Become a foster care parent...a child will thank you!

Have You Seen Our New Annual Report?

The new Family Service of RI annual report has just been printed!

Check it out here.

Thank you!

Did You See Bob Kerr's Column?

Did you see Bob Kerr's column in the Providence Journal about Family Service of RI's Walking School Bus program?

Check it out right here.

Video from Brighter Futures Luncheon

Thank you to all supporting our Brighter Futures luncheon yesterday!

In case you missed it, here's a report from WPRI!

Thank You!

Many thanks to all who made today's Brighter Futures luncheon a big success!  Congratulations to Education Commissioner Deborah Gist, our 2012 honoree!!

Photos and more soon!

AIDS Walk for Life is This Weekend!

This Sunday is the 27th annual AIDS Walk for Life, which benefits AIDS Project RI, providing a range of services relating to HIV/AIDS, including prevention and testing.

The event is held rain or shine, and takes place on the Rhode Island State House lawn facing the Providence Place Mall.

About 500 walkers are slated to participate.  There will be free anonymous HIV testing, free flu shots, music from the Providence Gay Men's Chorus and more.

This is a signature event for the City of Providence, so don't miss it!!

More info at www.aidsprojectri.org.

AIDS Project RI is a division of Family Service of RI.

Saluting Our Victim Services Team!

Family Service of RI's victim services team was honored Wednesday, September 12, 2012 with a Justice Award from Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin. A ceremony took place at the Attorney General's office in downtown Providence.

The Justice Awards are given annually in recognition of an extraordinary commitment to justice and the community.  Our team was recognized for domestic violence prevention.

Attorney General Kilmartin invited past Attorneys General to present the awards, which were also given to Providence and East Providence police officers, and other individuals and organizations.

Former Attorney General James O'Neil presented the award to our team. Some of our team members are pictured below.

 (L-R) Jen Etue, Meghan Martinez, Christine Santos, Mr. O'Neil, Dr. Susan Erstling, Cathy Bour

Read a GoLocalProv report here. Read the Attorney General's press release here. See more photos here.

Receiving Justice Award from Attorney General

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin has named Family Service of RI a recipient of a Justice Award.

We're being recognized for the dedication and commitment of our victim services team to preventing domestic violence.

We will receive the award Wednesday night. 

Congrats to our team!

Read more here from GoLocalProv.

Walking School Bus Rolls

It was a rainy day as the new "Walking School Bus" program got into gear at Fogarty Elementary in South Providence as the school year began.

The program, developed by Family Service of RI's Providence Children's Initiative (PCI) team, is needed because PCI found children within walking distance of school missing class because of parental health, work schedules and other issues. 

With the "Walking School Bus" children walk to school along a defined route with "stops."  The students are supervised by trained adults.

"It is critically important that we be creative in finding ways to eliminate chronic absenteeism," said Dr. Susan Lusi, Providence's school superintendent.  "This simple, safe and healthy program will help to ensure that children arrive to school on time and are less likely to miss important lessons that cannot be captured through makeup work.  We hope this will serve as a model for additional schools in our district."

Learn more about the "Walking School Bus" from this report from WPRI.

To learn more about the Providence Children's Initiative, check out this short video.

Working in a Number of School Districts

I often write about our work in the Providence public schools, but did you know Family Service of RI is providing various human services in partnership with other school districts?  Our work helps students and their families overcome barriers to attendance, staying in school, and academic success.

In addition to Providence schools, we're also in the Central Falls, Exeter-West Greenwich and Westerly schools. And recently we started working in partnership with St. Patrick Academy in Providence.

And how could I forget--we have a school ourselves called Mount Pleasant Academy.

So the start of the school year is a very special time of year here.

Learn more by perusing our Directory of Services.

--Stephen L. Hug

Welcome Back to Fogarty!

Our Providence Children's Initiative team is at Fogarty Elementary today welcoming  students & parents back, and letting them know about the Walking School Bus and more.

As you may know the Providence Children's Initiative has been a leader in addressing absentee and tardiness issues.

Check out this recent Providence Journal story.

Is summer really over?

--Stephen L. Hug

Back to School!

It's starting to get exciting!

Back to school time!

Our friends at GoLocalProv have put together a handy checklist of stuff to track down if you have a young one heading to class.

And JC Penney has free haircuts for K-6.  Check it out here.

--Stephen L. Hug