About Us

Children’s Friend was founded in Providence in 1834 as a home for abandoned and abused children. Since then, we’ve continuously adapted and expanded our services to answer the challenges of an increasingly complex world. Today, we reach every corner of the state with our comprehensive and integrated advocacy, guidance, assistance, education, prevention, and intervention services. See a complete list and description of our services. In everything we do, our expertise is passionately focused on elevating, empowering, and strengthening children and families — and preparing them to succeed in all facets of life. Our mission is to be the innovative leader in improving the well-being and healthy development of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable young children. Services include Early Head Start, Head Start, WIC, adoption, foster care, help for families with substance abuse, counseling, assistance for children with developmental delays, and other child welfare and early childhood services.