FAQs
How can I “Access Jewish Rhode Island?”
AccessJewishRI.org is an easily navigated website for community members to learn more about programs, services, events and contacts in greater Rhode Island. In addition, AccessJewishRI.org offers communication to our caring staff. AccessJewishRI.org’s dedicated phone line is a direct connection to personalized assistance in reaching Rhode Island’s Jewish community resources.
Need help? Have questions? We’re here for you—just call us. 401.421.4111 ext. 411
Monday – Thursday : 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Friday : 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Important Note:
AccessJewishRI.org is not a crisis hotline. In case of a medical or behavioral health emergency, call 911 immediately, and/or proceed to the nearest emergency room. If you are threatened or in harm’s way, call 911.
Suicide and crisis prevention hotlines:
– The Rhode Island Samaritans 401.272.4044 or 800.365.4044
– National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800.273.TALK (800.273.8255)
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Access Jewish Rhode Island is not a crisis prevention or intervention service.
If I choose to call, what can I expect?
Callers can connect with skilled information and referral specialists who maintain a high level of knowledge about community resources in order to be responsive to the needs of our community and provide a critical information bridge between individuals in need and local human service agencies. These trained and empathetic professionals make assessments in a non-threatening, non-judgmental and confidential manner and offer callers with much more than a phone number or the service hours of an agency.
Calls will be answered in the order they are received. If the voice message comes on, please be patient. It may mean that the information and referral specialist is on the phone with another caller. Please leave your name, number and confidential message. Your call will be returned as quickly as possible.
Will I be eligible for services?
Our caring staff will do their best to put you in touch with the agencies that will best address your current needs. Please keep in mind, however, that each agency operates independently from AccessJewishRI.org. Individual agencies are wholly responsible for screening callers for eligibility for services, and our referral to an agency does not guarantee services.
How did this initiative come about?
The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, Jewish Family Service (JFS) and Jewish Seniors Agency (JSA) have been successful in linking people and resources by consistently and creatively responding to the community’s changing needs. However, in recent years economic instability has risen dramatically in the greater Rhode Island Jewish community.
AccessJewishRI.org was created in response to “Living on the Edge: Economic Insecurity among Jewish Households in Greater Rhode Island,” a 2013 Brandeis University study commissioned by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and Alan Hassenfeld. Research shows that 2% of Jewish households in the Alliance service area fall below the federal poverty guidelines. Another 18% are living near poverty, and 30% are defined as economically vulnerable. This means half of the Jewish households in communities served by the Alliance face economic difficulties.
The creation of an information and referral website is the result of collaborations that depend on the work of dozens of Jewish community-based organizations. It is a critical resource for hundreds of at-risk individuals, such as the economically vulnerable, non-English speakers, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.
The goal of Access Jewish Rhode Island, therefore, is threefold—to provide a safety net, promote self-sufficiency, and increase access to Jewish life.
Does inclusion of information on this website mean that the entities listed have been approved and endorsed by AccessJewishRI.org and its partner agencies?
Inclusion in the database does not imply endorsement nor does exclusion imply disapproval. Organizations may be absent from the database due to the Criteria for Inclusion and Exclusion policy of Access Jewish Rhode Island. To have your organization listed, please contact us.
Is AccessJewishRI.org a qualified information and referral service?
The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island is a member of the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) which is the national professional credentialing program that measures and recognizes competence in the Information & Referral profession, improving the professionalism of the field and the quality of service provided to the public. Certification is a measurement of documented knowledge in the field of Information & Referral reflecting specific competencies and related performance criteria, which describe the knowledge, skills, attitudes and work-related behaviors needed by Information & Referral practitioners to successfully execute their duties. The AIRS Certification Program is operated in alignment with national standards for credentialing organizations.