Founded in 1931,  Bradley Hospital, located in East Providence, R.I., was the nation's first psychiatric hospital devoted exclusively to caring for children and adolescents. It remains a nationally recognized center for children's mental health care, training and research. Bradley sees more than 5,000 children and their families annually, offering the most comprehensive range of treatment available - including acute inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient programs, in-home treatment and residential homes - with the same continuum of care available for those with autism and developmental disabilities. Bradley also operates 6 special education schools for children and adolescents whose needs cannot be met in a public school setting. In addition, Bradley Hospital operates a central hotline for children and families in emotional crisis. Kids' Link RI (1-855-KIDLINK or 1-855-543-5465)  is staffed 24 hours a day by trained mental health professionals who work with callers to connect them to the most appropriate treatment. 

The Bradley Hospital Family Support Fund was created to assist families whose life circumstances make it difficult or nearly impossible to access or complete treatment. Unlike many mental health treatment facilities, Bradley Hospital accepts insurance for its wide range of services, but there are often other significant barriers to treatment. Family involvement is crucial to successful outcomes, which requires a substantial time commitment, often translating into a caregiver needing to take time off from work. Transportation costs can mount during an extended treatment, as can the cost of caring for other family members. The challenges are endless and are only compounded by the stress of dealing with a child with mental illness. While Bradley's care coordinators do their best to assist families in accessing public assistance, there simply is not enough available when it is needed most. The Family Support Fund, run by lead social workers at Bradley Hospital, is there to help.  Please  consider a donation to support children and families with mental health needs in our community.