| 1996 | Organizations that provide services to the region's children and families form a coalition - the Washington County Risk Response Team (WCRRT) - as part of the state's Family Outreach Program. |
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| 2001 | WCRRT members encounter increasing numbers of children and families "falling through the cracks." Frustration with these unmet needs spurs the Team to: 1) explore how other community coalitions/initiatives work to address problems facing children and families and 2) focus their efforts on "filling the gaps" in Washington County. |
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| 2002 | WCRRT undertakes completion of a comprehensive needs assessment. This assessment documents needs, identifies key issues, and serves as the basis for increasing community awareness and planning to address the most pressing needs.
In an early response to one of the assessment's Key Findings, the WCRRT partners with pediatrician Bob Maltz, MD, and applies for a CATCH (Community Access to Child Health) Grant from the American Academy of Pediatrics to document children's mental health needs as the first step in providing adequate services. |
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| 2003 | WCRRT publishes "The Status of Children and Families in Washington County: A Comprehensive Needs Assessment" - 118 pages of information and Key Findings.
WCRRT hosts two Children's Issues Forums to share findings from the needs assessment and establish priorities for action.
WCRRT hosts a Breakfast for area leaders in an effort to empower Washington County organizations to undertake initiatives to address priority issues and begin "filling the gaps."
WCRRT obtains CATCH grant and launches their children's mental health initiative.
WCRRT partners with Washington County Regional Planning Council on affordable housing issues.
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| 2004 | In response to the WCRRT needs assessment, Family Service of RI opens an office in North Kingstown and Big Sisters RI opens a satellite office in Peace Dale. In addition, South Shore Mental Health Center initiates a Grandparent Support Group.
WCRRT partners with DCYF in their efforts to increase the number of foster homes in the county as well as parent education and support resources through the Family Support Council.
WCRRT launches their Delayed Prenatal Care and Child Care & After-School Programming Work Groups.
WCRRT establishes the "Champion for Children" Award to recognize an individual who has demonstrated exemplary efforts with or on behalf of the children of Washington County.
WCRRT hosts their 2nd Annual Children's Issues Forum and formally changes their name to the Washington County Coalition for Children (WCCC).
WCCC partners with Casey's Grill and Bar in conducting a holiday gift drive for needy teens (Children over age 12 have historically been excluded from holiday gift drives). |
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| 2005 | WCCC secures a $40,000 strategy grant from The Rhode Island Foundation to fund a Coalition Coordinator position.
WCCC publishes a 2005 Update of their original needs assessment, citing progress and unmet needs.
WCCC convenes their 3rd Annual Children's Issues Forum with over 100 participants.
WCCC's Children's Mental Health Advisory Board releases findings and recommendations from their CATCH Initiative at a Children's Mental Health Summit with over 80 key stakeholders.
WCCC's Children's Mental Health Advisory Board partners with Brown Medical School's Dept. of Community Health to develop a web-based directory of behavioral health providers and programs.
WCCC's Child Care & After-School Programming Work Group organizes 4 local trainings for providers regarding behavioral issues and launches an outreach campaign to recruit Foster Grandparents to serve in area child care settings.
WCCC's Delayed Prenatal Care Work Group promotes earlier entry into prenatal care through changes in OB office procedures.
WCCC partners with Crossroads RI to update the Helpline database with Washington County resource information for a web-based directory to be launched in June 2006.
WCCC's Family Support Council implements a successful school-based, early identification pilot project at Curtis Corner Middle School by providing community resource consultation to the school's at risk team.
WCCC's Family Support Council secures funding to implement a new pilot program to provide critical supports to foster parent and kinship homes in Washington County.
WCCC partners with Casey's Grill and Bar in conducting the 2nd annual Holiday Gift Drive for needy Teens collecting over $5,000 worth of gifts, gift certificates and cash donations.
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| 2006 | WCCC secures a $30,000 renewal strategy grant from The Rhode Island Foundation to continue support for the Coalition Coordinator position.
WCCC partners with Prevent Child Abuse RI to pilot the Strengthening Families Initiative in child care centers in Washington County.
WCCC partners with the RI Dept. of Health to provide programmatic level consultation to specifically address social-emotional development and behavioral concerns within child care sites in Washington County with funding from the federal Healthy Tomorrows Program.
WCCC convenes their 4th Annual Children's Issues Forum with over 100 participants.
WCCC partners with Brown Medical School and secures a 5-year federal MCHB grant to conduct "Collaborative Office Rounds" with area Pediatricians and Mental Health Providers to provide training and case consultation on developmental/behavioral health issues.
WCCC partners with Pediatrician Bob Maltz, MD, and secures a $10,000 CATCH Implementation Grant from the American Academy of Pediatrics to pilot one-on-one consultation with a behavioral specialist for children exhibiting challenging behaviors in child care sites.
WCCC launches their own website. |
