The mental healthcare system is complex and can be confusing to understand and navigate. If you think that your child may have a mental health issue, you will need to become familiar with some new types of mental healthcare providers, programs, and services. In order to get the best care for your child, it will be helpful to understand who you will be working with, what they do, and how they can work together.
The purpose of this section is to help you understand how to navigate the mental healthcare system in Rhode Island in order to get the best available care for your child.
The best advocate for your child is you - a parent knows their child better than anyone else and knows what they need to succeed.
Talk with other parents to discuss strategies, common problems, and what kinds of solutions have worked. Many parents have received the best advice from other parents.
Key to successfully addressing your child’s mental health needs is building a support team and network. Below are suggestions of key people and organizations that may be a part of your child’s treatment.
Supporting your child’s mental health and development means coordinating care across providers, recognizing how maternal well-being affects the family, guiding your child’s transition to adulthood, and communicating openly with your employer when challenges arise—all to create a stable, supportive environment.
