RIPIN Services & Support

What We Do:

RIPIN helps Rhode Islanders navigate health care, special education, and healthy aging. Our team of peer professionals has personal experience caring for a loved one with special needs—allowing us to connect with our clients and provide the personal support they need to thrive.

RIPIN can help you navigate:

• Special education and supports
• Specialized services for children and young adults with disabilities
• Healthcare and health insurance
• Health education training, support, and resources

How We Do It:

RIPIN works with you side by side. We connect with you on the phone, in person, in your home or the community. RIPIN peer professionals have personal experience caring for a loved one with special needs. We can:

• Connect you to our statewide peer network
• Help coordinate care
• Provide workshops on health, education, and policy
• Provide leadership training to families
• Represent the consumer voice to policymakers

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Call Center 401-270-0101

The RIPIN Call Center offers free support to any Rhode Islander who needs help accessing healthcare, health insurance, or special education for children with disabilities.

The RIPIN Call Center offers sustained support from start to finish, working with you until your concern is resolved. All RIPIN services are provided by peer professionals, with expertise and training as well as personal experience navigating systems on behalf of themselves or a loved one.

Call Center Programs and Services:

• RIREACH: Helps Rhode Islanders access healthcare or health insurance, including resolving insurance company denials, complications with HealthSource RI and Medicaid eligibility, medical bills, and more.
• Special Education: Supports families of children with disabilities in accessing special education services.
• RIPIN Healthcare Advocate: Assists people covered by both Medicare and Medicaid with insurance denials and appeals, medical benefits and billing, and the Neighborhood INTEGRITY plan. The RIPIN Healthcare Advocate can be reached directly, toll-free at 1-855-747-3224. Click here to submit a Healthcare Advocate inquiry directly.

The Call Center answers calls live Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  As of  July 1, 2019, the RIPIN call center will no longer offer extended Thursday evening hours.  Call us at 401-270-0101, or email us at [email protected] with your name, phone number, a good time for us to contact you, and a short description of your issue.  If you require assistance outside of our normal business hours, we will work with individuals on a case-by-case basis to accommodate your request.  We strive to return all phone and email messages within two business days.

You can also contact us here, or submit an inquiry directly to the RIPIN Healthcare Advocate program.

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Community Health Network

CHN programs provide you with the tools to take control of your health and manage your health conditions with guidance and support on physical activity, nutrition, and emotional well-being.

Learn more about CHN and the classes available HERE

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Early Childhood

RIPIN’s Early Childhood Parent Consultants (PC) provide care coordination for families who have children who are age birth to three and are involved with Early Intervention(EI), RI Hearing Assessment Program or Women & Infants Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Our PCs draw on both personal and professional experience, as they inform, support, educate and empower families at the very beginning of their journey into the world of having children with special health care needs.

Helpful links:

• The Early Intervention Inter-agency Coordination Council (ICC)
• Overview of RI’s Early Intervention Program 
• Early Childhood at Sherlock Center 
• EI at Sherlock Center 

Call us at 401-270-0101 or email us at [email protected], or contact us here

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RIPIN Family Voices Family-to-Family Health Information Center

RIPIN Family Voices supports families that are caring for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN). Our goal is to help strengthen the partnership of families and providers through information, mentoring, and advocacy. We work to help families achieve a medical home of coordinated care.

We provide:

• Resources – where caregivers can find tracking and monitoring tools for care coordination
• Training – We offer free workshops, on topics relevant to advocacy and special health care needs.
• Peer Support – We can help your family navigate the health, education, and community-based resources available to those with special needs.
• A Monthly Peer Group – Where caregivers that are supporting those with different abilities can connect with other families and engage in an informational discussion on a variety of topics relevant to special health care needs.

Our Peer Professionals:

• Serve on a variety of work groups, committees, and advisory boards that inform the health and education systems in Rhode Island
• Amplify the “Family Voice” to educate professionals and policymakers about the consumer’s experience within the complex systems of care that serve those with disabilities.

Helpful links:

• Family Voices Resource Guide
• Family Voices Resource Guide (Spanish)
• Peer to Peer Support Group Flyer

We welcome new members to our peer support groups. Join us by contacting our Family Voices program at [email protected]

RIPIN is the Family Voices Affiliate Organization for the state of Rhode Island. To learn more about the national initiatives of the National Family Voices, please visit the Family Voices website: www.familyvoices.org.

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Medical Home

RIPIN’s Medical Home programs develop connections between family, pediatric practices, and the community. RIPIN peer professionals help Rhode Islanders successfully access health coverage, navigate healthcare and education systems, improve social determinants of health, and improve health outcomes for families with children with special health care needs. RIPIN peer care coordinators provide support in-person, by phone, and through email or postal mail. Our Medical Home programs include:   About Medical Home Programs:

• Cedar Family Center: Helps families gain access to services to support healthy family functioning for families of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN). Our team blends formal and informal community and specialized supports and helps families obtain information, access to clinical expertise, and a connection to community supports and other systems of care.

Click here for RIPIN Cedar referral form *for Medicaid eligible recipients only

• Patient-Centered Medical Homes-Kids (PCMH-Kids)/Pediatric Practice Enhancement Program (PPEP): Guides pediatric primary and specialty care practices to improve short- and long-term health outcomes for CYSHCN and their families within a medical home. RIPIN supports this effort by placing trained Peer Care Coordinators into pediatric medical sites throughout the state.
• Katie Beckett Medicaid Coverage: Supports families that are seeking to obtain eligibility under the “Katie Beckett” Medicaid category that allows certain children who have long-term disabilities or complex medical needs to be cared for at home instead of in a hospital or an institution. Some families use Medicaid to cover services that aren’t covered by the child’s primary health insurance or for services that may have caps or limits on the amount of service.

Email [email protected] or call 401-270-0101 x365 for more information on RIPIN’s Medical Home program.

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Special Education Programs

RIPIN’s Special Education programs support families of children with disabilities from birth to age 26 navigating special education and transition to adulthood systems. RIPIN Peer Support Coordinators assist individuals and families and guide the development of their advocacy skills to raise their concerns in a wide variety of settings. RIPIN’s Peer Support Coordinators represent the views of our constituents on statewide advisory councils and other committees, including participation on Local Advisory Committees (LAC) and school reform efforts. RIPIN’s Special Education team provide workshops and learning opportunities on a variety of topics related to special education and transition.

• Parent Training and Information Center (PTIC): has been a critical resource to parents for over 25 years. Trained RIPIN staff coach and guide families to actively participate in making informed decisions about their child’s education. We support families in navigating the special education process and gaining an understanding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). We work with both families and professionals to build stronger partnerships that improve educational outcomes for their children. In addition to working directly with individuals, we provide resources, workshops, and training that strengthen the face-to-face work.
• Transition to Adult Services: Our team supports students, young adults with disabilities, and their families as they transition to adult services; and learn about the options and resources available. Our team empowers young adults with disabilities and their families to actively participate in making informed decisions about the services they receive.
• Military Family Support Services: RIPIN’s Peer Support Coordinators assist active duty, retired military, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve personnel, who have a family member with a disability or special need.

Helpful links:

• Resources
• Workshops

Call us at 401-270-0101 or email us at [email protected], or contact us here

RIPIN Services & Support

At RIPIN, we are dedicated to empowering Rhode Islanders through a range of personalized support services. We provide one-to-one assistance, host workshops, build capacity within communities, and
facilitate support groups tailored to the unique needs of our diverse audiences.

Our experienced peer professionals offer guidance based on their own experiences navigating health care, special education, and healthy aging.

How We Help

What truly sets RIPIN apart is our peer professional model. Our staff members are peers with lived experience, allowing us to provide uniquely empathetic and informed support. We offer a holistic framework that includes:

• One-to-One Support: Personalized guidance tailored to the unique circumstances of each family.
• Workshops: Educational sessions that equip parents and caregivers with essential skills and knowledge.
• Capacity Building: Strengthening community resources and networks to better support families.
• Support Groups: Creating safe spaces for sharing experiences, challenges, and strategies among families facing similar situations.

Explore Our Services

For Parents and Caregivers of Children/Youth with Special Health Care Needs

RIPIN offers comprehensive wrap-around support that addresses both the health and educational needs of children and youth with special health care needs. Our approach ensures that the whole child and family are supported through a variety of services designed to empower families and promote positive outcomes.

• Early Childhood Support: Resources and guidance for families with young children, including Early Intervention services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays learn about your rights and work with the school system.
• Cedar Family Center: Care coordination for children with special health care needs, helping families navigate complex healthcare systems.
• Parent Training and Information Center: Assistance with special education navigation, including support for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans.
• Family Voices: Support network for families of children with special health care needs, offering peer-to-peer connections and advocacy resources.
• Call Center: Personalized assistance and information on healthcare, special education, and specialized services for children with disabilities

Our wrap-around process involves a team-based approach, collaborating with families to develop
individualized plans that reflect their goals and needs. We provide workshops, one-to-one support, and
connect families to our statewide peer network, ensuring comprehensive care from infancy through young adulthood.

Health Care

RIPIN offers health care support through our Call Center, providing free assistance to all Rhode Islanders
navigating healthcare, health insurance, and related concerns. Our peer professionals offer sustained
support from start to finish, working with you until your issue is resolved.

• RIREACH: RIREACH helps Rhode Islanders access healthcare or health insurance, resolving insurance company denials, complications with HealthSource RI and Medicaid eligibility, medical bills, and more personalized support for older adults.
• RIPIN Healthcare Advocate: Supports individuals covered by both Medicare and Medicaid with insurance denials and appeals, medical benefits and billing, and the Neighborhood INTEGRITY plan.

Healthy Aging

• Community Health Network: Health management workshops and classes.
• Care Management Program: Personalized support for older adults.
• Hospital Care Transition Initiative: Assistance with hospital-to-home transitions. In-patient referrals
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• DigiAge: Digital literacy and technology support for older adults.
• Call Center: Personalized assistance and information on healthcare and specialized services for aging-related concerns.

Self-Directed Individuals, Caregivers, and Professionals

Professionals

We provide valuable resources and support for professionals working in education, health care, and
community services. Our aim is to enhance collaboration among professionals, promote best practices,
and strengthen community networks to better serve individuals in need.

Contact Us