Providence Children's Museum - Template

Families Together is a partnership between Providence Children’s Museum and RI Department of Children, Youth and Families, helping build and rebuild family relationships since 1992. An innovative therapeutic visitation program for court-separated families in need of special guidance, Families Together offers a variety of visitation services. With the support and guidance of the Museum’s family therapists, parents engage in healthy play activities with their children where they improve communication and parenting skills. The program is highly valued by Rhode Island child welfare advocates and has changed visitation practices throughout the state.

Families Together is acclaimed nationally. In 2006, the program received MetLife Foundation and Association of Children’s Museums Promising Practice Replication Award. This honor provides recognition and inspiration for children’s museums across the country to develop similar programs based on the Families Together model, using the tool kit the Museum created following receipt of the award.

Families Together was a top finalist for the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award, a program of the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in 2003. The award is administered in partnership with the council for Excellence in Government and recognizes innovative and effective government initiatives. This award enabled Providence Children's Museum to publish Play With Your Kids, A How-To, Why-To Guide for Parents, written by the Museum's executive director, Janice O'Donnell. Play With Your Kids is available in English and Spanish to parents and caregivers as well as to social service agencies and others who work with families.

To learn more about the programs and services of Families Together at Providence Children’s Museum, contact Heidi Brinig, Director of Families Together, at (401) 273-5437 ext. 131


Visitation Services

Guided Family Visitation at Providence Children’s Museum

This program strengthens relationships and builds parenting skills at the state’s only hands-on museum designed for children and their families. During a series of Museum visits, parents and children play and learn together under the supportive guidance of the Museum’s family clinicians. Since visits occur when the Museum is open to the public, Families Together therapists observe parents and children in an active community setting.

The program follows a strength-based, family focused model and recognizes the needs of children, parents, foster and residential caretakers as well as other providers.

  • The program serves children ages 1 to 11 and parent(s) for whom reunification is the stated goal.
  • The Museum’s hands-on exhibits are accessible to families of all backgrounds, abilities, and levels of education.
  • Referrals are made by DCYF caseworkers; potential referrals are screened by the Families Together Clinical Consultant at the DCYF Region in which they are made.
  • Visitation schedule follows the directives of the case plan; the program offers biweekly or weekly visits with a maximum of eighteen visits.
  • Families Together clinicians facilitate all visits and provide feedback and support to parents, children and referring case workers.
  • Visits allow caseworkers to observe parents and children in a community setting.
  • Transportation is provided by Families Together staff.
  • Written and verbal reports on the family’s progress are provided to DCYF caseworkers as requested.
  • Families completing the program are entitled to a Museum membership for one year at no cost.

Pre-Adoptive Visitation

Waiting children and potential adoptive families can get to know one another in the nurturing environment of Providence Children’s Museum. These visits must be arranged through a caseworker.

  • Visits are guided by Families Together therapists.
  • The Museum environment offers children and their pre-adoptive families a safe, fun and meaningful visiting experience.
  • Visits can be scheduled to meet the needs of the family.
  • Adoptive families are entitled to a Museum membership for one year at no cost.

Visitation Consultation at DCYF Regional Office

Families Together Clinical Consultants, available to case workers and supervisors at all Regional Offices at least two days each week, provide the following services:

  • Assist workers to document visits and develop effective visitation plans in keeping with case plan goals
  • Suggest strategies for successful visits, including visit activities and locations
  • Participate with caseworkers in meetings with families, at DCYF administrative reviews and with other providers
  • Observe and participate in visits at the regional offices and in the community
  • Screen referrals to the Families Together Visitation Program at Providence Children’s Museum

Visitation Training/Staff Development

Families Together Clinical Consultants work closely with the Child Welfare Institute staff at Rhode Island College to deliver a visitation training series for all Family Service Units and recently hired DCYF employees. For information, call (401) 273-5437 ext. 132.

To contact the Families Together Visitation Consultants:

Region I and III Cheryl Lepre (401) 528-3931, (401) 294-5423

Region II and IV Paula Toland (401) 254-7042, (401) 721-2598