Get Involved

• Communicating with legislators Your voice matters at the State House! It is important that you share your opinion on policies with your elected officials. Here are some tips for communicating with your state representatives through phone calls, letters and testifying at public hearings.
• Find your state legislator Find out who your state and federal representatives are and how to contact them via the Secretary of State’s website.
• Attend a legislative hearing One way of sharing your opinion with policymakers or learning more about legislation is by attending a committee hearing. Visit the General Assembly’s committee calendars to stay informed of legislative hearings.
• Learn more about the state budget Visit our State Budget 101 page to learn more about the basics.
• Policies for economic progress Learn more about The Economic Progress Institute’s policy agenda.
• Understanding and influencing the state budget Become involved in the state budget debate. This presentation will help you understand how the state budget is developed and how you can influence the outcome.

• Trainings about government assistance programs
  The Economic Progress Institute provides trainings about a host of government assistance programs. If your organization is interested in hosting a training, email us.
• The Guide to Assistance
  The Guide is a web-based tool that provides information about the programs that can help Rhode Islanders meet their basic needs.
• The Guide Update
  This is an electronic newsletter that provides timely updates about changes to government assistance programs. Subscribe now.

These meetings are open to the public. Social service providers, program beneficiaries, and other interested parties are encouraged to attend to share concerns and recommendations for program improvement.  

• RIte Care Consumer Advisory Council
  Meets monthly to discuss issues related to the RIte Care and RIte Share Health Insurance Program.
  Meetings are the second Thursday of the month at 10am •  Simpson Hall, Pastore Complex, 1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920
• Rhode Island Works Advisory Committee
  Meets every other month to discuss issues related to the RI Works Program, the state’s welfare program. 
  Meetings are the first Friday of every other month at 9 am •  Good Will Industries, 100 Houghton Street, Providence, RI 02904
• Child Support Advisory Committee
  Meets every month to discuss issues related to child support in Rhode Island. 
  Meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at  9am •  Casey Family Services, 1268 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02905
• SNAP Advisory Committee
  Meets monthly to discuss issues related to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, (formerly called Food Stamps).
  Meetings are the second Monday of the month at 9 am • West Wing Conference Room, Louis Pasture Building #57, Pastore Complex, 1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920
• Permanent Legislative Committee on Child Care
  Meets monthly to discuss issues related to access, affordability and quality of child care in Rhode Island.
  Meetings are the second Monday of the month at 2:30 Room 313 of the State House, 90 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02905 (Note: the March and April meetings will be held in Room 205 instead) 
• Child Care Community Exchange (DHS)
  Meetings are quarterly.  Dates for 2012 are January 30th, April 30th, July 30th, October 29th from 1:00-2:30 pm at United Way of Rhode Island, 50 Valley Street, Providence, RI 02909

• Cost of Living Calculator
  See what it costs to live in the Ocean State
• Exercises and classroom projects (Coming soon!)
  Download these tools to teach students about the cost of living, the local job market and the education and training necessary to earn family sustaining wages.