Congratulating Ripin on 35 Years of Improving Rhode Islanders' Lives

WHEREAS, RIPIN is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization that helps Rhode Islanders navigate health care, special education, and healthy aging in order that they can achieve their health, education, and socio‑economic well‑being goals; and

WHEREAS, RIPIN was founded in 1991 by a passionate group of parents of children with special needs who came together to share information, find resources, and support one another, creating a peer‑to‑peer model that remains at the heart of the organization’s work today; and

WHEREAS, Over the past 35 years, RIPIN has grown into a statewide network of more than 100 peer professionals, most of whom have personal experience caring for a loved one with special healthcare or educational needs, allowing them to provide uniquely empathetic, practical support to families; and

WHEREAS, A majority of the members of RIPIN’s board of directors are always parents of children with special needs from birth to age 26; and

WHEREAS, RIPIN empowers Rhode Islanders of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds by offering one‑on‑one assistance, workshops, and learning opportunities that build the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to navigate complex systems of care; and

WHEREAS, RIPIN’s health insurance call center has saved Rhode Islanders more than $10 million since 2018 by resolving coverage problems and preventing avoidable costs; and

WHEREAS, RIPIN plays a critical role in supporting parents and caregivers in special education, helping families understand their rights, advocate for their children, and collaborate effectively with schools in order that students with disabilities can learn, grow, and thrive; and

WHEREAS, RIPIN is Rhode Island’s federally designated Parent Training and Information Center (PTIC) and Family-to-Family (F2F) Health Information Center, making RIPIN a go-to resource for families raising children with special needs; and

WHEREAS, RIPIN also advances healthy aging by helping older adults stay healthy, active, and independent in their homes, ensuring they get the care they need when and where they need it; and

WHEREAS, Since 2017, RIPIN has recorded hundreds of thousands of interactions with Rhode Islanders every year, including more than 115,000 client encounters in 2025, reflecting the organization’s deep and growing impact across the state’s healthcare, education, aging, and disability systems; and

WHEREAS, In its th anniversary year, RIPIN is celebrating countless stories of empowerment and resilience from families, youth, adults with disabilities, and older adults whose lives have been improved through peer support, advocacy, and connection to vital services; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island recognizes RIPIN as an indispensable partner in strengthening Rhode Island’s safety net, advancing equity, and ensuring that all residents can access the supports they need to thrive; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby congratulates RIPIN on the occasion of its th anniversary and commends its board, leadership, staff, and peer professionals for their outstanding service to the people of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to RIPIN.