Childrens Friend and Service
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF CHILDREN'S FRIEND AND SERVICE (THE ORGANIZATION) IS TO BE THE INNOVATIVE LEADER IN IMPROVING THE WELL-BEING AND HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF RHODE ISLAND'S MOST VULNERABLE YOUNG CHILDREN. THEY ACCOMPLISH THIS BY PROVIDING FLEXIBLE AND EFFECTIVE CULTURALLY RELEVANT SERVICES AND ADVOCATING FOR PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE ORGANIZATION ACCOMPLISHES ITS MISSION THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
- Income
- $35.7 million
- Spending
- $35.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 71%
- Employees
- 434
- Volunteers
- 451
- Highest pay
- $233,372, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $21.5 million spent. FAMILY SUPPORT INITIATIVEDURING 2025, THERE WERE 324 FAMILIES WHO RECEIVED HOME VISITING SERVICES FROM THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM. THE FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS TARGET AT-RISK FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF BIRTH TO 3 YEARS LIVING IN PROVIDENCE, PAWTUCKET AND CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND. HOME BASED SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, CRISIS INTERVENTION, CASE MANAGEMENT, HEALTH AND NUTRITION EDUCATION, PRENATAL EDUCATION, COUNSELING AND PARENTING EDUCATION ARE PROVIDED TO THE FAMILIES IN THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGE. IN ADDITION TO WEEKLY HOME VISITS, FAMILIES PARTICIPATE IN CENTER-BASED ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT GROUPS OFFERED TO BOTH MOTHERS AND FATHERS.HEAD START IS A COMPREHENSIVE CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES SCHOOL READINESS IN LOW-INCOME PRESCHOOL CHILDREN. SERVICES INCLUDE EDUCATION, HEALTH, NUTRITION, SOCIAL SERVICES AND OTHER CHILD AND FAMILY SUPPORTS. PARENTS ARE INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LEARNING AND THE PROGRAM HELPS FAMILIES IN MEETING THEIR EDUCATIONAL, LITERACY AND EMPLOYMENT GOALS.THE HEAD START PROGRAM ENSURES THAT ALL CHILDREN ARE UP-TO-DATE WITH IMMUNIZATIONS AND THAT THEIR HEALTH NEEDS ARE BEING MET. CHILDREN RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. FAMILIES ARE LINKED WITH RESOURCES AND PROVIDED SUPPORT IN MEETING THEIR GOALS.THE AGENCY PROVIDES SERVICES UNDER THE HEAD START PROGRAM IN PROVIDENCE AND THE BLACKSTONE VALLEY AREA. A TOTAL OF 1,167 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH THE PROGRAM DURING 2025.THE EARLY HEAD START CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIPS SUPPORT WORKING FAMILIES BY PROVIDING A FULL-DAY, FULL-YEAR PROGRAM SO THAT LOW-INCOME CHILDREN HAVE THE HEALTHY AND ENRICHING EARLY EXPERIENCES THEY NEED TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. DURING 2025, 114 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVED SERVICES.CHILD CARE CENTERTHE AGENCY OPERATES CHILD CARE CENTERS IN CENTRAL FALLS, PAWTUCKET, AND PROVIDENCE. THERE WERE 180 CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE CENTERS IN 2025 AND AN ADDITIONAL 67 THROUGH THE SUMMER LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. THE PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY PRE-KINDERGARTEN CLASSES TO ELIGIBLE CHILDREN. RIDE OVERSEES THE PROGRAM. 354 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN 2025PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTTHE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES QUALITY TRAINING PROGRAMS OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY, EARLY CARE EDUCATORS, AND STAFF OF THE AGENCY AND OUR AGENCY PARTNERS. APPROXIMATELY 400 EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS OF THE EXTERNAL COMMUNITY AND THE AGENCY PARTNERS PARTICIPATED IN THE TRAININGS DURING 2025.FOSTER CARE/PERMANENCY SERVICES THE ADOPTION/FOSTER CARE PROGRAM PROVIDES A FULL CONTINUUM OF ADOPTION, COUNSELING, CASE-MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR BIRTH PARENTS, CHILDREN, ADOPTIVE PARENTS AND ADULT ADOPTEES. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS FOR AT-RISK INFANTS AND CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO 10 YEARS WHO ARE IN NEED OF TEMPORARY OUT OF HOME CARE, THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM ALSO RECRUITS, TRAINS AND ASSISTS IN THE LICENSING OF FOSTER PARENTS.IN 2025, 0 ADOPTION HOME STUDIES WERE COMPLETED FOR 0 PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE FAMILY. FOSTER CARE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 19 CHILDREN, 0 NEW FOSTER FAMILIES WERE TRAINED, 1 FAMILY WAS LICENSED AND 13 PREVIOUSLY LICENSED FAMILIES REMAINED ACTIVE, FOR A TOTAL OF 14 LICENSED FAMILIES.IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM RESPONDED TO INQUIRIES FOR INFORMATION AND REFERRALS REGARDING ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE RELATED ISSUES.FOSTERING FAMILIES PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES FOR KINSHIP AND FOSTER FAMILIES. ALL REFERRALS FOR SERVICES ARE MADE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES (DCYF). THE GOAL IS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF FOSTER AND KINSHIP FAMILIES WITH FOSTER CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK OF EXPERIENCING REMOVAL DURING THE DURATION OF THEIR TIME WHILE OPEN TO DCYF. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN HOME, AND INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: LINKAGE TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, COURT ADVOCACY AND CASE CONFERENCING, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, PARENTING AND NURSING ASSESSMENT/INTERVENTION/MONITORING, MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING, AND RECREATIONAL AND GROUP INTERVENTIONS. FOSTERING FAMILIES PROVIDES WEEKLY TO BI-WEEKLY VISITS BASED ON THE NEED OF THE FAMILY AND/OR CHILD. SERVICES ARE STATEWIDE AND CAN BE ACTIVE FOR UP TO 15 MONTHS. THE PROGRAM SERVED 36 FAMILIES IN 2025.PARTNERS IN PERMANENCY PROVIDES INTENSIVE, HOME-BASED SERVICES TO DECREASE THE LENGTH OF TIME CHILDREN ARE IN FOSTER CARE. THE GOAL IS TO PROMOTE CHILD WELL-BEING WHILE ACHIEVING TIMELY PERMANENCY AND SAFETY. PARTNERS IN PERMANENCY IS BUILT ON A FAMILY-CENTERED PRACTICE APPROACH, REQUIRING INTENSIVE WORK TOWARD REUNIFICATION WITH BIRTH PARENTS WHILE IDENTIFYING A PLACEMENT OPTION FOR THE CHILD THAT WILL BE PERMANENT IF REUNIFICATION EFFORTS ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN THE HOME AND COMMUNITY. IN 2025, 4 FAMILIES WERE SERVED IN THIS PROGRAM.CARING DADS RHODE ISLAND IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTION WITH A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING MEN INVOLVED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CHILD OR CHILDREN. THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO HELP DADS WITH A HISTORY OF RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGES BUILD HEALTHIER CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND THE OTHER PARENTS, ADULTS, AND CAREGIVERS IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES. SERVICES ARE STATEWIDE AND ARE PROVIDED IN A GROUP FORMAT AND HOME VISITING. IN 2025, 39 FATHERS PARTICIPATED IN SERVICES.
- $5.8 million spent. HEALTH AND NUTRITION SERVICESSPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN (WIC) IS A NUTRITION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES: HEALTHY FOODS, NUTRITION EDUCATION TO IMPROVE FAMILY HEALTH, BREASTFEEDING ADVICE AND SUPPORT, REFERRALS TO DOCTORS, DENTISTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES. WIC HELPS PREGNANT WOMEN, BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS, AND NEW MOTHERS WITH BABIES UNDER SIX MONTHS OLD, FATHERS, GRANDPARENTS, FOSTER PARENTS, BABIES, AND CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN FIVE YEARS OLD.THE AGENCY PROVIDES SERVICES UNDER THE WIC PROGRAM IN CENTRAL FALLS, PROVIDENCE AND PAWTUCKET. DURING 2025, 5,412 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH THE WIC PROGRAM.THE FIRST CONNECTIONS PROGRAM IS A HOME-BASED OUTREACH SERVICE INTENDED TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MOTHERS AND THEIR NEWBORN CHILDREN. MOTHERS AND NEWBORNS, WITH POTENTIAL RISKS FOR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT, ARE IDENTIFIED BY THE HOSPITAL WHEN THE BABY IS BORN.THE AGENCY PROVIDES SERVICES UNDER THE FIRST CONNECTIONS PROGRAM IN CENTRAL FALLS, PAWTUCKET, CRANSTON AND PARTS OF PROVIDENCE. DURING 2025, 651 NEWBORN CHILDREN RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH THE PROGRAM.THE HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA (HFA) IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAM ROOTED IN THE BELIEF THAT EARLY, NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR LIFE LONG, HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT. HFA REQUIRES THAT FAMILIES ARE ENROLLED PRENATALLY OR AT BIRTH AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO FAMILIES UNTIL THE CHILD'S THIRD BIRTHDAY.DURING 2025, HFA PROVIDED SERVICES TO 354 PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP (NFP) IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF AT-RISK, FIRST-TIME MOTHERS AND THEIR INFANTS. THE PROGRAM PAIRS THESE YOUNG WOMEN WITH SPECIALLY TRAINED NURSES, WHO CONDUCT HOME VISITS PRENATALLY UNTIL THE CHILD IS TWO YEARS OF AGE.DURING 2025, NFP PROVIDED SERVICES TO 30 PARTICIPANTS. THE AGENCY PROVIDES SERVICES UNDER THE NFP PROGRAM IN PROVIDENCE, PAWTUCKET, CENTRAL FALLS, WEST WARWICK, WOONSOCKET AND NEWPORT. THIS PROGRAM ENDED IN EARLY 2025.
- $2.8 million spent. FAMILY PRESERVATION SERVICEFAMILY CARE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPTHE ORGANIZATION IS PART OF A PARTNERSHIP OF COMMUNITY-BASED AGENCIES SERVICING THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITHIN THE URBAN CORE IN RHODE ISLAND. THE CATCHMENT AREA INCLUDES PROVIDENCE, PAWTUCKET, CENTRAL FALLS AND CRANSTON. THE PARTNERSHIP INCLUDES: FAMILY SERVICE OF RHODE ISLAND, AS LEAD AGENCY IN DIRECT CONTRACT WITH DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES (DCYF), CHILDREN'S FRIEND AND SERVICE, COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, TIDES FAMILY SERVICES, THE PROVIDENCE CENTER AND THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR SOUTHEAST ASIANS. EACH AGENCY HAS A TEAM THAT WORKS DIRECTLY WITH FAMILIES.FAMILIES IN THE PROGRAM ARE AT RISK FOR CHILD ABUSE, NEGLECT AND/OR DEPENDENCY OR DCYF INVOLVEMENT. CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM MEET THE CRITERIA FOR SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE (SED) OR HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED UNDER DSM-IV OR DC: 0-3, OR ARE CONCLUDING A SENTENCE AT THE RHODE ISLAND TRAINING SCHOOL OR ARE LEAVING TEMPORARY COMMUNITY PLACEMENT.DURING 2025, THE AGENCY SERVICED 4 FAMILIES THROUGH THE FAMILY CARE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP. KIDS CONNECTKIDS CONNECT SERVICES SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL, OR MEDICAL NEEDS IN THEIR CLASSROOM SO THAT THEY CAN SUCCESSFULLY LEARN AND PLAY WITH THEIR PEERS. THESE ARE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS WHO ARE LIVING AT HOME OR WITH A FOSTER FAMILY AND NOW HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CERTAIN SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL, DEVELOPMENTAL, BEHAVIORAL, OR EMOTIONAL CONDITIONS. A TOTAL OF 50 CHILDREN RECEIVED KIDS CONNECT SERVICES IN 2025PROJECT CONNECT PROJECT CONNECT IS A STATEWIDE HOME-BASED INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. PROJECT CONNECT IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH HIGH-RISK FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. FAMILIES ARE REFERRED BY DCYF AND SERVICES ARE TAILORED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. DURING 2025, 147 FAMILIES RECEIVED INTENSIVE FAMILY PRESERVATION SERVICES AMONGST THESE PROGRAMS.
- $4.0 million spent. EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY AND/OR RISK AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES BETWEEN THE AGES OF BIRTH TO 3 YEARS. CHILDREN RECEIVE A VARIETY OF SERVICES, MOST IN A HOME BASED OR COMMUNITY SETTING, FROM A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM. THERE WERE 770 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH THE PROGRAM DURING 2025.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1951.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.