Community Organizations

COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM: Grow and Nurture in Cranston

Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP) has been serving the City of Cranston and neighboring areas for more than 30 years. Offering a variety of social service programs, CCAP focuses on supporting people as they strive for personal and economic self-sufficiency.

CCAP takes a comprehensive approach to helping individuals and families dealing first with basic needs, then moving on to address additional needs. Offering programs for children, adults and seniors, we span the gamut from day care to health care, employment skills to substance abuse counseling; whatever an individual or family needs to weather an emergency, deal with a crisis, and get life back on track, CCAP can help relieve the burden, provide the care, and support people until they can stand on their own.

Our philosophy centers on addressing basic human needs - food, shelter, and clothing. Beyond that, every human's need to be cared for is addressed through a variety of programs, which fall into four major categories: Social Services, Child Development Center, the Doric Center, and Family Health Services. The programs are detailed below.

311 Doric Avenue
Cranston, RI 02910
(401) 467-9610
FAX (401) 467-9030

CCAP SITE

COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS & SERVICES:

Doric Center:
The Doric Center forms the core of our clinical services, providing for all of the mental health needs of our clients. Through the licensed and experienced counselors at the Doric Center, we offer the following: Family Life Resource, Comprehensive Emergency Services, Addiction Services, Comprehensive Employee Assistance Program, Youth Diversionary Program, Adolescent Self-Sufficiency Collaborative, Community Action Family Network Program, Discharge Planning, and Enhanced Case Management and Emergency Consultation.

Doric Center
311 Doric Avenue
Cranston, RI 02910
(401) 461-4640 or (401) 781-3990
FAX (401) 467-9030

CCAP

Family Health Services:
Family Health Services is a community-based health center, providing a full range of primary care services including:

* Obstetrics
* Gynecology
* Adult medicine
* Pediatrics
* Family planning

The goal of Family Health Services is to provide quality, affordable health care. People with low incomes are able to obtain health care they can afford, based on a sliding scale. Those with insurance opt to use the health center for primary care because of the quality of our medical staff. All forms of insurance are accepted. Family Health Services is one of the founders of Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, an HMO licensed in 1994. Our holistic approach to health care includes nutrition, education, case management, parental education, and additional social services programs, which enhance our ability to provide comprehensive care. Our family planning services include physical examinations, birth control counseling, pregnancy testing and counseling, STD screening and treatment, HIV testing, PAP smear testing, and breast examinations. The Family Health Center is open 5 days a week, with evening and Saturday appointments available.

Family Health Services
1090 Cranston Street
Cranston RI 02910
(401) 943-1981
FAX (401) 943-2846

CCAP

WIC (Women, Infant, and Children Nutritional Program) Cranston Child Development Center:
The Cranston Child Development Center is a licensed child care facility, providing comprehensive services for children from birth to age five. The Center has over 25 years experience in providing quality services to children and their families. We offer the following programs and services: Day Care, Head Start and Early Head Start.

Cranston Child Development Center
848 Atwood Avenue
Cranston, RI 02910
(401) 943-5160
FAX (401) 946-6701

WIC

Social Services:
The overall goal of CCAP's Social Services is to help individuals and families meet the basic human needs of food, shelter, and clothing. All programs are designed to provide people with a range of services that promote personal and economic self-sufficiency. All services are provided to income-eligible individuals and families at no cost. Social services include:

* Emergency Food & Commodities
* Clothing Bank
* Furniture Bank Applications
* Emergency Housing Assistance
* RI Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Elderly
* Catastrophe Fund
* Foster & Scituate Outreach
* Information & Referral
* Rental & Home Ownership Opportunities

Social Services
311 Doric Avenue
Cranston RI 02910
(401) 467-9610
FAX (401) 467-9030

CCAP

Housing:
The Affordable Housing Program offers many different programs geared toward providing low-income housing to individuals and families. The agency is committed to providing and investigating many avenues for the creation of affordable housing in Rhode Island.

Currently we own 23 affordable rental units located in the City of Cranston. Nineteen of these units are located at Cranston Commons East, a renovated church rectory. The other properties provide two units for transitional housing and two units for families at or below 80% of median income. All of our tenants are charged below market rents.

Another program is HOPE 3, which helps people realize the dream of home ownership. Through this program, CCAP provides assistance in the form of down payments, closing costs, and housing rehabilitation. CCAP helps with the initial expenses that prevent many people from owning their own home.
Cranston Housing Authority

CODAC:
CODAC provides outpatient and drug abuse treatment, 21-day outpatient opiate detoxification and prevention services. Treatment is available on a general basis for all Rhode Island residents. Most health care plans, HMO's, AFDC, Medicaid and RiteCare are accepted. All others are charged according to a sliding scale. CODAC also provides a Student Assistance program in Cranston's secondary schools.

CODAC
1052 Park Avenue
Cranston, RI 02910
(401) 461-5056
FAX (401) 943-3590

CODAC

The Cranston Center:
The Cranston Center has day service and workshops for adults and children ages 3-21 with developmental disabilities. Also available are group homes, apartments and residential programs. The Cranston Center serves residents of Cranston, Foster, Glocester, Johnston, and occasionally those on the Providence border. Transportation for school-aged children is provided by the appropriate School Districts.

The Cranston Center
655 Dyer Avenue
Cranston, RI 02910
(401) 942-2388

Cranston Historical Society:
The Cranston Historical Society provides group tours of the Governor Sprague Mansion and may be arranged by calling (401) 944-9226.

Rental facilities are available in Sprague Mansion and Joy Homestead.

Governor Sprague Mansion
Cranston Street
(401) 944-9226

Joy Homestead
Scituate Avenue
(401) 463-6168

Cranston Historical Society

Cranston YMCA:
The YMCA is an international, community-based, multi-faceted membership organization serving the entire community. Its mission: "To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all." Its motto: "We build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities."

The YMCA in Cranston was founded in 1936 as an extension of the Greater Providence YMCA, when it conducted the Rhodes School in Edgewood. It was officially recognized as a Branch in 1940. During that time, the Cranston YMCA operated from rented facilities located on Rolfe Street using churches, schools, and homes as YMCA program sites.

In 1957 facilities were constructed on its present site. This original building consisted mainly of multi-purpose rooms. It was essentially a program center serving as a hub for the Y activities still being conducted in the community.

Today, the YMCA is a full-service facility with swimming pool, gymnasium, fitness center, locker rooms, family changing area, exercise rooms, nursery school, babysitting room, and multi-purpose rooms. In addition to the Park Avenue location, programs are conducted at several locations throughout the city.

Membership services and programs include swim lessons; youth and adult sports; youth, adult and senior exercise; teen leadership development and teen center activities; program and/or committee volunteer opportunities; self-defense; licensed kindergarten and nursery school programs; summer specialty full-and half-day camp programs; theater and dance programs; Prime Time family time; lifeguard/first aid/CPR certification programs; licensed toddler, preschool, and afterschool child care services; school vacation week programs and special events.

The YMCA also has in place a sliding scale financial assistance program to help families facing economic hardship to participate in YMCA membership services and programs. Approximately 20% of the 5,000 YMCA members have been assisted through this program.

The Teen Center is a safe, fun filled environment for teens, ages 13-17, who are residents of the City of Cranston. The Teen Center operates on Saturdays during the school year at the YMCA. An annual membership fee for photo ID is required. For more information about the YMCA or the Teen Center, call or write:

Cranston Teen Center
c/o Cranston YMCA
1225 Park Avenue
(401) 943-0444
FAX (401) 946-7589

Cranston YMCA

Eastman House:
Eastman House, Inc. is a non-profit drug and alcohol treatment center, offering outpatient and residential services to women and their families. This organization provides assessment, referral, case management, and an array of psycho-education formats as well as group, individual and family counseling. Services are designed to meet the special needs of women in recovery. A transition program is offered to allow women to enter treatment within 24 hours of the initial referral. Transportation, child-care services, and a preschool age prevention program are available as well. Medicaid is accepted, and payment of services is based on a sliding scale.

Eastman House
1545 Pontiac Avenue
(401) 463-8829

Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc..:
The Girl Scouts is a volunteer organization that provides informal educational programs. Girl Scouts teach self-potential, relating to others, developing values, contributing to society, and overall principles of Girl Scouts. Programs are available to all girls ages 5-17 who are residents of the State of Rhode Island; Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, Rehoboth and Seekonk, Massachusetts; and Pawcatuck, Connecticut. Membership dues include a national membership fee and a voluntary contribution per family for parent partnership dues. Fees are waived for qualified members. For information contact:

Girls Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc.
125 Charles Street
Providence, RI
(401) 331-4500

Girl Scouts of Rhode Island 

MHS Mental Health Services of Cranston, Johnston, and Northwestern RI, Inc.:
This organization provides a wide range of comprehensive community health services, including mental health assessments and counseling services. Programs range from outpatient counseling services to intensive treatment and rehabilitation services for children and adults with serious mental illness. Services are available for residents of Cranston, Foster, Glocester, Johnston, North Providence, Scituate, and Smithfield. For additional information contact:

Mental Health Services of Cranston, Johnston Northwestern Rhode Island, Inc.
1516 Atwood Avenue
Johnston, RI
(401) 273-8100
FAX (401) 454-0418

Mental Health Services 

Boy Scouts of America, Narragansett Council:
The Boy Scouts of America provides comprehensive youth development of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Explorers. Boys, ages 6-18, and girls, ages 14-16, are welcome. An annual membership fee is required.

Narragansett Council Boy Scouts of America
175 Broad Street
Providence, RI
(401) 351-8700
Fax (401) 351-5515

Boy Scouts

Northern Rhode Island Cooperative Extension:
The Northern Rhode Island Cooperative Extension is a district office of the University of Rhode Island. It is an informal educational organization, which provides programs and services in agricultural and natural resources, children, youth, and 4-H Youth Development. Towns and cities served are Burrillville, Central Falls, Cranston, Cumberland, East Providence, Foster, Glocester, Johnston, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Providence, Scituate, Smithfield, and Woonsocket.

Northern Rhode Island Cooperative Extension
17 Smith Avenue
Greenville, RI
(401) 949-0670

NRIC

Volunteers in Cranston Schools (VICS):
The VICS organization is a non-profit, community-based organization that provides myriad services to the students of the Cranston Public School System. In addition to providing volunteers who tutor, translate, interpret, and schedule field trips, VlCS prides itself on taking enrichment programs into the schools to enhance the curriculum. VICS is always searching for new volunteers, so if you have a special talent you would like to share with the students of Cranston, please contact:

Volunteers in Cranston Schools
845 Park Avenue
(401) 785-8028

Volunteer In Cranston Schools