The following is an overview of how to navigate the child welfare system including understanding kinship foster placement, guardianship and adoption options and resources for children or youth in DCYF care. It includes links to information on the DCYF website. Refer to the Caregiver’s Corner page for organizations that can help you navigate these resources or call our peer mentors at 401-780-2255
The following PDFs can be downloaded and they provided helpful information. Click on any of the links below to download these documents.
Legal Guardianship and Kinship Guardianship Assistance
DCYF Information
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (H.R.6893)
Rhode Island Adoption Agencies
State of Rhode Island Office of the Child Advocate
CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocate
Rhode Island Adoption Agencies
The following four agencies are licensed through the RI Dept. of Children, Youth & Families
(Adoption services are offered at no cost to the families)
Adoption Rhode Island
Two Bradford Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-865-6000
Fax: 401-865-6001 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Communities for People
221 Waterman Street
Providence, RI 02906
Phone: 401-273-7103
contact person: Emily Rumrill
email:erumrill@communities-for-people.org
(older youth 12-21, special needs adoption)
Department of Children, Youth, & Families
530 Wood St.
Bristol, R 02809
Phone: 401-254-7076
contact person for adoption: Maureen Robbins
(school-age children and special needs adoption)
Urban League of RI
RI Families for Children
Adoption and Foster Care Program
246 Prairie Avenue
Providence, RI 02905
Phone: 401-351-5000 x117
contact person: Lisa Jackson
email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
(school-age and special needs adoption, we specialize in serving the minority community and Spanish speaking families with training, home studies, and support services in Spanish.)
The Agencies Below are Licensed Independently
(There may be some cost involved for adoption services)
A Red Thread Adoption Services, Inc.
333 Westminister Road
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 888-871-9699
email:redthreadadopt@aol.com
(domestic and international adoption)
AAA Friends in Adoption
P.O. Box 1194
Newport, RI 02840
Phone: 401-841-0265
(domestic adoption)
ABC Adoption Consultants, Inc
56 Blackamore Avenue
Cranston, RI 02910
Phone: 401-781-7485
email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
(Guatemalan adoption)
Adoption By Choice
Catholic Social Services
31 Hooper Street
Tiverton, RI 02878
Phone: 401-624-9270
contact person: Elaine Abdow
email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
(domestic and international adoption)
Adoption Options
959 North Main Street
Providence, RI 02904
Phone: 401-331-5437
email:adopt@adoptionoptions.org
(domestic, international, school-age and special needs adoption)
Alliance For Children
500 Prospect Street
Pawtucket, RI 02860
Phone: 401-725-9555
e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (international and domestic adoption)
American International Children’s Alliance
1445 Wampanoag Trail
East Providence, RI 02915
Phone: 888-450-2422
(international adoption)
Bethany Christian Services
706 Warwick Avenue
P.O. Box 8939
Warwick, RI 02888
Phone: 401-467-1395
e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
(international and domestic adoption)
Children’s Friend & Service
Contact Person: Sandra Pyram-Loyer, MS
153 Summer Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-276-4335
fax: 401/331-3285 email: sloyer@cfsri (domestic adoption)
Gift of Life Adoption Services, Inc.
54 University Ave.
Providence, RI 02906
Phone: 401-521-3603
e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
(domestic and international adoption)
Little Treasures Adoption Services
P.O. Box 20555
Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: 401-828-7747
e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
(international adoption)
The Adoption Home study Service Agency
P.O. BOX 4824
Rumford, RI 02916
Phone: 401-434-1353
contact person: Patricia Rose
e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
(domestic and international adoption, home studies)
Wide Horizons for Children
245 Waterman Street, Suite 504
Providence, RI 02906
Phone: 401-421-4752
(international and domestic adoption)