Community and non-profit organizations are available to provide mental healthcare or support for your child and for you as a parent. 

Organizations

Advocacy Organizations

The role of advocacy organizations is to provide parents with the resources, skills, tools, and other supports necessary to advocate for their child. Some advocacy organizations focus only on mental health issues, while others focus more broadly on health and developmental issues that can affect a wide range of children.

Foundations

The role of foundations is to provide support and access to resources for people who are affected by the main cause of the foundation. For example, some foundations focus on providing support for a specific diagnosis, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In general, foundations are national organizations that have state or regional chapters. The Rhode Island chapters of foundations will have the best knowledge about resources and support specific to the state.

Support Groups

The role of support groups is to provide parents and children with access to others who are in a similar situation and access to professionals who can offer additional support.

Types of Professionals

These organizations may include a variety of professionals, such as mental health specialists, experts in mental health topics, advocacy experts, or legal professionals (lawyers or paralegals). Many of these professionals are your peers - they also have children with mental health issues.

Evaluations

Depending on the organization, certain community and non-profit organizations offer mental health evaluations. However, even if they do not offer it themselves, these organizations are usually well equipped to refer you to a wide range of mental health specialists who do provide evaluations.

Services Offered

Support groups are available to provide you with resources and emotional support as a parent of a child with a mental health issue. Advocacy organizations and foundations may help to promote education, awareness, and legal rights for specific mental heath issues. They often provide resources for understanding mental health issues, locating mental health specialists, and understanding insurance policies. Some community organizations run intensive outpatient programs, specialty schools, or residential programs. Learn more about mental health treatment.

How Community and Non-Profit Organizations Work within the Mental Healthcare System

Community and non-profit organizations that focus on mental health stay up to date on mental health topics and issues by working closely with mental health specialists and experts. They work directly and indirectly with other organizations and professionals to maintain educational resources on mental health issues and contact information for mental health specialists. Learn more about how some of these organizations fit within the state system.

Limitations

Some of the programs and organizations can be difficult to locate or learn about. You may not always hear about them through pediatricians or mental health specialists. The organizations also do not always have enough funding for the types of programs or staff that are needed.