Parent Support Network (PSN) is a statewide family controlled non-profit organization in Rhode Island operating since 1993 dedicated to children's mental health. We believe in partnership and our workforce is growing quickly and we are in need of working capital due to all state contracts being cost reimbursement/30 days net. Your investment will assist us in meeting our outcomes to reduce disparities and increase access to services and basic need resources to prevent child abuse and neglect so that children and youth can be safe, healthy and well in their home, schools, and communities. We work in partnership with state government, families, and communities to achieve these outcomes and address social determinants of health that the children and family members we work with are experiencing such as access to healthcare, food, housing, treatment for trauma, education, employment, and a healthy environment.
Our business model for our Child & Family program is to utilize certified community health workers to deliver individualized and group-based services with children, youth and families for them to meet their basic needs and receive ongoing parent/caregiving education and support. Community Health Workers (CHW) are frontline, public health professionals who often have similar cultural beliefs, chronic health conditions, disability, or life experiences as other people in the same community. CHWs are invaluable frontline healthcare and community empowerment workers, function in a variety of roles and community settings, from hospitals to social service organizations. They provide outreach, health education, linkages to programs and services, advocacy, and hands-on enrollment assistance. CHWs focus their attention on underserved communities. CHWs work to ensure access to high quality healthcare and social services for people most in need and bring unique understanding of the experience, language and/or culture of the population that they serve.
According to Labor Market Information Data from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training in 2019 Health Care and Social Assistance employed the most workers in the state, accounting for 19.2% of the state’s private sector employment. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, overall employment of health education specialists and community health workers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. PSN community health worker services are now Medicaid reimbursable with no cap on the number of children and families we work with, and we can do up to 8 hours (32 units/$12.50 per unit) of service delivery within one day.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors are projected to grow 25% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Mental health issues and substance abuse disorders are on the rise in the U.S. The latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 51.5 million people experienced a mental health condition in 2019, and approximately 20.4 million people ages 12 or older had a substance use disorder related to the abuse of drugs or alcohol. In 2020, 384 Rhode Islanders lost their lives to overdose.
PSN is a member of the Community Health Workers Alliance and all staff are required to be state certified and receive ongoing professional development. PSN is a lead organization providing workforce development training needed for certification and re-certification for this workforce. We are a recognized federal registered apprenticeship program for dual certified community health workers and peer recovery specialists.
PSN currently employs over 50 certified community health workers who understand firsthand what children, youth, and families are experiencing and work with them to identify their strengths, needs and cultural preferences and then develop goals and action steps and to assist with transportation and coaching to achieve goals to meet their child and family unique needs utilizing a wraparound approach. Our staff provide ongoing supervised visitation and home-based wellness visits as a component of our parent education program.
We have served over 500 children, youth and their families with individualized intensive services and it is our goal to increase this number served to 700 within the next year, and 1000 within the next two years. Visit our website at
www.psnri.org and to learn more about the children and families we serve by visiting
Rhode Island Kids Count website.
PSN has an operating budget of $4.7 million, which is a blend of federal, state and private funds (over 90% is cost reimbursement) and we are currently working with children who are involved with early intervention, special education, behavioral health treatment, child welfare and the justice system. We work closely with RI Family Court, and we are the Prevent Child Abuse America -Rhode Island Chapter.
April is Prevent Child Abuse month!