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West Bay to Celebrate 30 Years of Service!

Shortly after West Bay was incorporated in 1981 we acquired our first home in Cranston, RI. Within a year, three additional homes were opened and West Bay became an independent agency. By the start of the 1990's, our organization was operating 13 homes and one semi-independent living apartment. We had also established a comprehensive Day Services program. Over the next ten years, West Bay continued to expand services across six communities in Rhode Island, and by 2000, we were servicing 19 homes and six semi-independent apartments.

It's an exciting story of growth, dedication and commitment to providing the best possible services anywhere.

Today, West Bay employs more than 350 people, and supports more than 130 individuals. Most of the individuals at West Bay reside in one of our 26 homes, which offer 24-Hour support or one of the seven homes offering Semi-Independent living. We also provide Day Services to approximately 100 individuals.

On November 3rd, we will commemorate our 30th Anniversary with an Open House for the entire Rhode Island community at our main offices on 158 Knight Street, in Warwick, RI between 5 pm and 8 pm. We will welcome guests from across the state, as well as individuals from our communities to join in a celebration of our growth, our work, and those we help. We hope that you will join us for the occasion!

Thank You for Joining Us at the State House

On Tuesday, October 11th staff, members, and supporters of the West Bay community joined with other organizations from across the Ocean State to rally against funding cuts to those who provide support for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Thousands formed a Circle of Hope around the State House, symbolizing opposition to the proposed $24 million cut to programs for the developmentally disabled. These cuts threaten the residential services and support, care, employment and transportation for those with developmental disabilities in Rhode Island.

Kathy Millard, assistant director of West Bay Residential emphasized the importance of the rally, "When legislators are behind closed doors it's difficult to recognize the lives they are impacting. Hopefully, by joining together with the people we serve and those who serve them, we will have shown legislators how important these programs are."

To learn more about the rally, budget cuts and coverage, please view the links below:

Warwick Beacon
Providence Journal
WPRI
WJAR

Keep the Pressure On!

Despite the incredible turnout at the State House on October 11th, it's vitally important that our supporters continue to ask Governor Chafee and our local legislators to rectify the recent spending cuts that are putting West Bay's services in jeopardy. West Bay families recently met with several legislators to explain how the upcoming cuts would drastically impact the services West Bay provides to individuals. We ask you to call them, thank them for their interest, and ask them to restore the cuts.

Those legislators who visited a West Bay site include:

Sen. Josh Miller: 401-276-5582
Sen. Glen Shibley: 401-222-2708
Sen. William Walaska: 401-737-1065
Rep. David Bennett: 401-648-1171
Rep. Michael Chippendale: 401-497-4495
Rep. Frank Ferri: 401-737-5113
Rep. Scott Guthrie: 401-823-3451
Rep. Robert Jacquard: 401-943-7799
Rep. Jared Nunes: 401-821-8693

We also ask that you continue to call Governor Chafee's office directly and encourage him to intervene and stop the additional cuts that may force West Bay and other agencies to shut their doors. Governor Chafee can be reached at (401) 222-2080.