Head Start Collaboration Offices (HSCOs) facilitate partnerships between Head Start agencies and other state entities that provide services to benefit low-income children and their families.

Head Start is a federally funded program created in 1965 in an effort to combat poverty. The program offers a wide range of services to low-income children aged three to five years old.

Early Head Start provides the same services for infants and children up to age 3 and their families. 

https://www.earlylearningri.org/parents-families/ri-head-start-early-head-start%c2%a0programs

The Rhode Island Head Start State Collaboration Office (RIHSSCO) is located in the Rhode Island Department of Human Services. The Department of Child Care directly oversees the RIHSSCO within the Department of Human Services. The mission of the RIHSSCO is to provide early care and education services for children birth to 12 years.

RI Department of Human Services oversees a number of programs to help individual and families in Rhode Island. A complete comprehensive list is on their website.

Childcare

Includes Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and Head Start link

Supplemental Nutrition Program SNAP

Medicaid and Medicare Programs

Includes Katie Beckett Katie Beckett is an eligibility category in Medicaid that allows certain children under age 19 who have long-term disabilities or complex medical needs to become eligible for Medicaid coverage.

The Sherlock Plan

Medicaid for Working People with Disabilities Program is a type of Medicaid eligibility for working adults with disabilities.

Medicare Premium Program

SSI State Supplemental Payment

Long Term Services and Supports

Includes Medicaid Long Term Care Supported Services (LTSS) and Enhanced Assisted Living Program for elderly and adults with disabilities.

RI Works Program

RI Works is a financial and employment assistance program for parents and families with little to no income who have children high school age or younger.

General Public Assistance Programs

Includes Bridge Fund, Hardship Program and Funeral/Burial Assistance 

Refugee Assistance Programs

Energy Assistance Programs

DHS' programs and services, including those offered by our four divisions, collectively serve more than 300,000 families, adults, children, older Rhode Islanders, individuals with disabilities and veterans each year. Each have their own eligibility requirements and our staff are happy to assist those who need us through the application process and any other needs. 

Office locations

To be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services, you must - 1) have a physical, intellectual or emotional impairment which is a substantial barrier to employment, and 2) require vocational rehabilitation services to prepare for, secure, retain, or regain employment, and 3) be able to benefit from vocational rehabilitation services in terms of an employment outcome. link

Transition services information

 Transition services are activities and supports designed to help the student to identify his/her interests and strengths so that they can work on the skills needed to be successful in employment and adult living. These services are provided by schools, families, community members, and agency providers. Students set goals, develop a plan to meet the goals, and participate in transition services to begin their preparation for life after high school.

Pre Employment Transition Services information

 (1) Job Exploration Counseling, (2) Work-Based Learning, (3) Counseling Opportunities for Enrollment in Comprehensive Transition or Post-Secondary Educational Programs, (4) Workplace Readiness Training, and (5) Self-Advocacy.

Services for Blind and Visually Impaired link

ATEL link

The Rhode Island Adaptive Telephone Equipment Loan (ATEL) Program provides landline/home telephones and wireless devices on loan to qualified individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, have a speech disability, or have neuromuscular damage or disease that hinders them from using a standard telephone. 

A public state and federally-funded program that assists individuals with disabilities to choose, prepare for, obtain, advance in, and maintain competitive integrated employment. 
ORS Counselors provide technical assistance, consultation, information and referral services to school systems and work in close partnership with Regional Educational Collaboratives, netWORKri and other agencies to improve transition planning.

RIte Smiles is the dental plan for children who have Medicaid as their only form of insurance coverage. Children will receive a RIte Smiles card in addition to their health insurance card and an anchor card. RIte Smiles is provided through United Healthcare. 

UnitedHealthcare provides dental benefits to children eligible for RIte Smiles through the State of Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS).

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m EST, Monday - Friday

Additional Information

Ages 3-5

Kids Connect Agency

Smith Hill Early Childhood Learning Center participates in the Rhode Island Department of Human Services’ KIDS CONNECT program that fund children with special needs participate, play and learn, along with their typically-developing peers. Learn more about KIDS CONNECT.