Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals

What Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals does

The Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH) is a Rhode Island state government department — the state's second-largest, with more than 1,200 employees — that administers an integrated behavioral health, developmental disability, and state hospital system serving approximately 50,000 Rhode Islanders annually. The department operates two accredited state hospitals: Eleanor Slater Hospital (the state's only Long-Term Acute Care Hospital, with campuses in Cranston and Burrillville) and the Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital (53 beds, Cranston), both fully accredited by The Joint Commission in 2023. BHDDH also licenses and oversees a statewide network of 40+ behavioral health providers, six Community Mental Health Centers, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), and Regional Prevention Task Forces, and operates 24/7 crisis infrastructure including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the BH Link triage center in East Providence.

The department's core technology stack centers on the RI-BHOLD (RI Behavioral Health On-Line Data) system, a centralized longitudinal dataset containing treatment records since the 1970s across 40+ providers, supporting federal reporting (TEDS, MH-CLD), program evaluation, and academic research collaborations. In 2025, BHDDH initiated a partnership with WellSky to design a new electronic medical records system for the state hospitals. The 17-person Research, Data Evaluation, and Compliance Unit includes data scientists, epidemiologists, and program evaluators, and the department publishes public dashboards for 988, alcohol and tobacco surveillance, and Synar compliance.

BHDDH's business model is non-commercial: it is funded through Rhode Island state appropriations (as the second-largest state department) combined with federal Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grants, Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports for developmental disability services, and the DOJ consent decree–driven transformation of I/DD services. Services are delivered at no direct charge to consumers through state-operated facilities and licensed provider networks, with the department setting licensure standards, administering funds, and conducting quality oversight across the continuum of mental health, substance use, developmental disability, and forensic services.

Name

Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals

Legal name

Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals

Website

https://bhddh.ri.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Rhode Island state department operating Eleanor Slater Hospital and Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital, administering behavioral health, substance use, and developmental disability services through a statewide network of licensed providers and crisis infrastructure serving approximately 50,000 residents annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Behavioral Healthcare Services

NAICS

Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals (622210), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Pharmacy Benefit Management and Other Third Party Administration of Insurance and Pension Funds (524292)

SIC

Services-Hospitals (8060), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI), Behavioral Health Benefit Administration (MBHO Core) (HLAEAHAA), Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitals (HLAFAHAH)

Keywords

• Behavioral health services
• Mental health treatment
• Developmental disability services
• Substance use treatment
• State hospital services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cranston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. State Government Appropriations: Primary funding from Rhode Island state government budget appropriations as the second largest state department
2. Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG): Federal block grant funding authorized by section 1911 of Title XIX, Part B, Subpart I and III of the Public Health Service Act supporting comprehensive community mental health services
3. Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SAPTBG): Federal block grant funding authorized by section 1921 of Title XIX, Part B, Subpart II and III of the Public Health Service Act for substance abuse prevention and treatment activities
4. Medicaid/Long-Term Services and Supports: Funding through Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) for developmental disability services, administered in partnership with RI Department of Human Services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BHDDH is Rhode Island's state behavioral healthcare authority, providing integrated mental health, substance use disorder, and developmental disability services to Rhode Island residents. The department operates two state hospitals (Eleanor Slater Hospital as a Long-Term Acute Care Hospital and Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital with 53 beds), licenses and oversees a statewide network of behavioral health providers including Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) and Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs), and operates 24/7 crisis infrastructure through the 988 hotline and BH Link triage center. Services are funded through state appropriations, federal block grants, and Medicaid, and reach approximately 50,000 Rhode Islanders annually.

Product overview

BHDDH is Rhode Island's second largest state department (with more than 1,200 employees) providing an integrated system of behavioral health, developmental disabilities, and hospital services. The department operates two state hospitals (Eleanor Slater Hospital as a Long-Term Acute Care Hospital and Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital with 53 beds), manages the Division of Behavioral Health (overseeing six Community Mental Health Centers and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics), and the Division of Developmental Disabilities (serving adults with I/DD through case management, residential, employment, and transition services). Key programs include the 988 crisis hotline, BH Link 24/7 triage center, Centers of Excellence for opioid treatment, the RI-BHOLD data system, and a Forensic Division established in 2025. The department touches approximately 50,000 Rhode Islanders annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Eleanor Slater Hospital (ESH) A Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) specializing in the treatment of patients with serious medical conditions. Located on two campuses in Cranston and Burrillville, Rhode Island. Services include physical, occupational, recreational, speech and respiratory therapies, ventilator care, acute brain injury care, and comprehensive psychiatric services. Fully accredited by The Joint Commission.
• Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital (RISPH) Licensed for 53 beds, providing psychiatric treatment and care. Fully accredited by The Joint Commission. Handles court-ordered forensic patients with serious mental illnesses. Average length of stay reduced from 2 years to 5 months, expanding statewide access.
• Division of Behavioral Health Services Ensures access to safe, person-centered care for Rhode Islanders living with mental health and substance use conditions. Oversees a comprehensive, community-based network of care including six Community Mental Health Centers and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs). Operates the 988 crisis line and BH Link 24/7 triage facility.
• Division of Developmental Disabilities Plans, funds, and oversees the adult developmental disability (DD) service system for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). Provides services including conflict-free case management, self-directed supports, community supports, residential habilitation, shared living, transportation, and employment services.
• Forensic Division Oversees court-ordered competency evaluations and coordinates treatment for individuals who have been deemed by the court system as not competent to stand trial. Led by BHDDH Deputy Director Dr. Louis Cerbo. Has expanded community-based treatment options for justice-involved individuals, successfully diverting many from costly state hospitalization.
• BH Link

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% drop in overdose deaths since 2022, with 219 accidental overdose deaths in 2025—the lowest recorded number in Rhode Island since 2012
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• WellSkycoreTechnology or Integration · 2 June 2025WellSky is the vendor selected to design and implement a new electronic medical records (EMR) system for Eleanor Slater Hospital and the Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital. Hospital leaders met with WellSky on June 2, 2025 to advance long-awaited plans for transitioning from paper records to electronic systems, which will allow for improved clinical tracking and patient care.
• RI Quality InstitutestrategicTechnology or IntegrationBHDDH collaborated with the RI Quality Institute to create and launch a deidentified public database of real-time psychiatric and substance use treatment bed availability. The site ribhopenbeds.org includes information about inpatient psychiatric beds, detoxification beds, mental health crisis stabilization beds, substance use residential treatment programs, and substance use recovery housing, available 24/7.
• University of Rhode Island (Community Research and Services Team)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Community Research and Services Team (CRST) from the University of Rhode Island has evaluated Regional Prevention Task Force coalition initiatives (2016-2021) and the Student Assistance Services initiative Project SUCCESS (2018-2021) for BHDDH, providing research and evaluation support for prevention programs.
• Advocates in Action Rhode IslandstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocates in Action Rhode Island hosts quarterly DD Community Forums on Zoom on behalf of BHDDH. These forums feature updates from Director Kevin Savage and provide opportunities for community feedback and engagement with developmental disability services.
• 942STOP Recovery Access ProgramstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBHDDH issued RFP for the 942STOP access and coordination program, which serves as a centralized statewide access point for individuals seeking recovery services including Recovery Housing. Operators will be selected to provide this coordinated access to treatment services.
• Recovery Community CentersstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBHDDH contracts for Recovery Community Centers that provide peer support and recovery services across Rhode Island, part of the recovery-oriented system of care.
• Governor's Council on Behavioral HealthstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2001 to advise the governor and members of the general assembly regarding policies and goals of behavioral health programs. The Council includes the Governor's Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force which marked its 10th year in 2025 with significant results.
• RI Department of Education (RIDE)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHDDH partners with RIDE for the Youth in Transition (YIT) program supporting youth with I/DD aged 14-22, including participation in Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings and transition planning.
• RI Executive Office of Health & Human Services (EOHHS)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHDDH works with EOHHS for oversight of developmental disability services, Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports, and coordination of health and human services across state agencies.
• RI Department of Health (RIDOH)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHDDH collaborates with RIDOH on initiatives including the Rhode Island Student Survey (RISS) and Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) for behavioral health surveillance and prevention planning.
• Providence Fire Department (Safe Stations)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvidence Safe Stations program allows individuals with addiction to visit any Providence fire station 24/7 to be connected immediately to treatment support and services through trained fire department staff.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• New York State Office of Mental Health: Operates New York's statewide public mental health hospital and community service system. Highly comparable as a state government behavioral health authority with inpatient psychiatric hospitals, licensing authority, and community mental health oversight.
• Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: Pennsylvania's state authority for behavioral health planning, licensing, and oversight within DHS. Comparable administrative role and population scale, though services are more decentralized through county joinders.
• Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services: Virginia's combined state agency for behavioral health and developmental disabilities, operating training centers and licensing community providers. Highly comparable given the combined MH/SUD/DD mandate similar to BHDDH.
• Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services: Ohio's integrated state agency for mental health and addiction services operating psychiatric hospitals and funding community providers. Comparable integrated model and oversight function.
• Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services: Connecticut's combined state authority for mental health and substance use services, including state-operated inpatient facilities. Direct peer operating an integrated behavioral health model analogous to BHDDH's combined MH/SUD authority.
• Massachusetts Department of Mental Health: Massachusetts' state mental health authority operating inpatient psychiatric facilities and licensing community providers. Direct regional peer given New England geography and similar scope of state-operated mental health services.
• New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services: State-level behavioral health authority managing state psychiatric hospitals and licensing community providers. Comparable scope of authority and integrated MH/SUD service delivery.

Broad incumbents

• California Department of Health Care Services - Behavioral Health: California's broader state health agency administering Medi-Cal behavioral health, county mental health plans, and SUD services. Larger scope and population but functionally analogous as a state behavioral health payer/overseer.
• Texas Health and Human Services Commission - Behavioral Health Services: Texas's broad health and human services commission with behavioral health administration for a much larger population. Comparable administrative function at much greater scale.
• Florida Department of Children and Families - Substance Abuse and Mental Health: Florida's state-level behavioral health office managing publicly funded mental health and substance use services. Comparable oversight role across a much larger state population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ribhddh
• Facebookfacebook.com/RIBHDDH
• Instagraminstagram.com/ri_bhddh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ri-dept-of-behavioral-healthcare-developmental-disabilities-hospitals

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals