Frequently Asked Questions
I was referred to About Families. What exactly do you do?
How do I contact About Families?
How old does my child have to be to qualify for services?
Do you provide services statewide?
Is there a charge for services? What type of insurance coverage do I need?
What is Katie Beckett?
How do I make a referral?
Who can make a referral to About Families?
What information will I need to complete the referral?
Does my child have to have a prior treatment history or diagnosis to enroll in services?
How soon do services start?
Where do we meet?
With whom will I be working at About Families?
I do not speak English well. Can you still help me?
Me puedes ayudar aunque yo no hable ingles muy bien?
What will happen during the first visit?
After this visit is over, what happens?
What are HBTS, PASS, KidsConnect, and Respite?
Can I end services with About Families whenever I want?
If I have a complaint/concern regarding services, what shall I do?
Are there other CEDARR Centers in Rhode Island?
What are the differences among the CEDARR Centers?
May I switch CEDARR Centers?
Q. I was referred to About Families. What exactly do you do?
A. About Families is the oldest CEDARR Center in Rhode Island. We work with families on identifying strengths and needs of their children; coordinate and link families to mental health/healthcare providers; and provide ongoing therapeutic counseling and care coordination services.
Q. How do I contact About Families?
A. To contact our offices to make a referral or to gain additional information, please call:
401-365-6855 or toll free 1-877-451-1046
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Q. How old does my child have to be to qualify for services?
A. Children between the ages of 0 to 21 are eligible for About Families services.
Q. Do you provide services statewide?
A. Yes, we have staff who operate out of our home office in Pawtucket and we also have staff who telecommute throughout the State to better serve families all over Rhode Island.
Q. Is there a charge for services? What type of insurance coverage do I need?
A. Services are free of charge for families and children who have Medical Assistance (Katie Beckett, Rite Care, Neighborhood Health, United Health Care).
For families that have an employer sponsored health plan, our staff will work with you on exploring your insurance company’s benefits and assessing Medicaid eligibility.
Q. What is Katie Beckett?
A. Katie Beckett is an eligibility category that allows certain children under age 19 who have long term disabilities or complex medical needs to become eligible for Medical Assistance coverage. Katie Beckett eligibility enables children to be cared for at home instead of in an institution. With Katie Beckett, only the income and resources of the child, not the parents, are used to determine eligibility. For more information on Katie Beckett please go to: www.dhs.ri.gov/ChildrenwithSpecialNeeds/KatieBeckett.
Q. How do I make a referral?
A. To make a referral please contact our offices to speak with one of our professional staff who will work with you to gather the necessary referral information.
If you are in a crisis situation, you will be put in touch with one of our licensed clinical staff who will discuss your concerns with you immediately.
If you are calling after hours or require immediate emergency attention, please call 911 or the KidsLink RI Emergency number 1-866-429-3979.
Q. Who can make a referral to About Families?
A. Children can be referred for services by parents/legal guardians. Additionally, with signed consent, referrals can be accepted from school staff, primary care physicians, other state and community agencies, and treatment providers who are already involved with the family.
Q. What information will I need to complete the referral?
A. You will be asked for your name, address, telephone number, child’s name, child’s contact information (if different than your own), medical assistance identification number, and the reason for calling.
Q. Does my child have to have a prior treatment history or diagnosis to enroll in services?
A. No. While many families contact About Families after previous treatment involvement, this is not a requirement to enroll. We will work with families and specialty evaluators to determine an appropriate diagnosis and the level of need for your child.
A. At About Families we recognize how crucial it is to begin services to support children as soon as possible. We will work to meet with you within 5-10 days of your initial call to our offices.
Q. Where do we meet?
A. We meet with families at a location of their choosing. Our meetings are generally at the family’s home but can also take place at work sites, community centers, schools, or our offices in Pawtucket.
Q. With whom will I be working at About Families?
A. Each child and family will have the opportunity to work with a Master's level, licensed Clinician and a Family Service Coordinator from About Families.
Q. I do not speak English well. Can you still help me?
Me puedes ayudar aunque yo no hable ingles muy bien?
A. Yes. At About Families we have staff fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and Cape Verdean.
Si, en About Families, tenemos personal bilingüe que habla Español, Portugués, Creole/Cabo Verde.
We will also secure interpreter services to meet any additional language needs.
Proveemos servicios de interpretación para satisfacer las necesidades adicionales de cualquier lenguaje.
Q. What will happen during the first visit?
A. During the first visit, you will have the opportunity to meet our staff and discuss the strengths and needs of your child and family. Our goal is to hear your thoughts and concerns regarding your child’s special needs and determine how best to support your efforts. This information will be used along with any other relevant information to help develop a Family Care Plan for your child, which will serve as a guide to ongoing services for your child.
Q. After this visit is over, what happens?
A. Ongoing services will be tailored to your child’s and family’s specific needs. Our staff will work with you on coordinating services and providing individualized and family based treatment.
Q. What are HBTS, PASS, KidsConnect, and Respite?
A. These are four separate community based programs intended to support children at varying levels of need across multiple community or home based environments.
For more information on each specific program, please contact our offices or refer to the following website: www.dhs.ri.gov/ChildrenwithSpecialNeeds/CEDARRFamilyCenters
Q. Can I end services with About Families whenever I want?
A. About Families services are completely voluntary and families are free to leave and re-engage at any time.
Q. If I have a complaint/concern regarding services, what shall I do?
A. We encourage families to talk to their Clinician or Family Service Coordinator whenever possible to address concerns. However, if families do not feel this is possible, please contact the staff’s direct supervisor and follow the formal grievance process. This information is supplied to all families at the beginning of treatment and can also be obtained by contacting our office.
Q. Are there other CEDARR Centers in Rhode Island?
A. Yes, the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all of the CEDARR Centers are listed at www.dhs.ri.gov/ChildrenwithSpecialNeeds/CEDARRFamilyCenters.
Q. What are the differences among the CEDARR Centers?
A. All CEDARR Centers are developed and governed under the Department of Human Services Standards. Individual differences amongst the CEDARR Centers generally relate to professional staffing and contracted specialty providers. For more information on each CEDARR Center, you may contact them directly using the contact information on the DHS website.
Q. May I switch CEDARR Centers?
A. Yes. Families have the right to choose services from any of the CEDARR Centers. If you choose to leave your current CEDARR Center, we ask that you consider using the formal grievance or transfer process as this will help the Center address any concerns and/or coordinate a transfer of services.
Please note that families may only be enrolled in one CEDARR program at a time.