R.I. Foundation awards $1.7M in grants to 31 nonprofits to support behavioral health during COVID-19

PROVIDENCE – Roughly $1.7 million in grants were issued to 31 local nonprofit organizations by the Rhode Island Foundation from its COVID-19 Behavioral Health Fund, the foundation announced Thursday.

The foundation said the fund helps Rhode Islanders cope with behavioral health challenges that were brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Such programs range from offering counseling to survivors of domestic violence to helping children via telehealth services cope with the health crisis, the foundation said.

Back in May, 34 organizations received a total of approximately $3.7 million in grants from Rhode Island Foundation through this fund. The grants in the latest round range from $10,000 to $165,000, the foundation said.

In a statement, Rhode Island Foundation CEO and President Neil D. Steinberg said that he hopes the latest funding offers nonprofits the resources they need “to help address the increases in depression, isolation, suicide and substance abuse that we are seeing during these challenging times.”

The organizations that received the latest round of grants are:

AccessPoint RI
Adoption Rhode Island
Child & Family
Day One
Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island
Family Service of Rhode Island
Federal Hill House Association
Fellowship Health Resources Inc.
Friends of Rhode Island Court Appointed Special Advocate Inc.
Gateway Healthcare Inc.
Interfaith Counseling Center
James L. Maher Center
Newport County Community Mental Health Center
Oasis Wellness and Recovery Centers of Rhode Island
Open Doors
Providence Children and Youth Cabinet
Providence Housing Authority
E.S.T. Support Group
Rhode Island Association for Infant Mental Health
Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Rhode Island College
Rhode Island Communities for Addiction Recovery Efforts
Sophia Academy
Frank Olean Center Inc.
Providence Community Health Centers Inc.
Thrive Behavioral Health
University of Rhode Island Foundation
VICTA
West Bay Residential Services Inc.
Women’s Refugee Care
Wood River Health Services

James Bessette is the PBN special projects editor, and also covers the nonprofit and education sectors. You may reach him at Bessette@PBN.com. You may also follow him on Twitter at @James_Bessette.