The Providence Police Departments Home Safe Alert program is a program designed to provide officers with critical information prior to responding to a call involving individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Participants will provide the Providence Police Department with important information about how best to interact and communicate with their loved ones. Some of the information collected will include their known triggers, method and language of communication, and how to deescalate. This information will help avoid the escalation of our interaction with this specific individual and increase our ability to communicate properly.
The Home Safe Alert Program is a volunteer registry for individuals living, working, or attending school in the City of Providence. Once the person is registered, the information will be placed into the dispatch system. The information in the database will be given to the officers responding on calls or interacting with an individual who has Autism. This information will be voluntarily shared and kept confidentially within the Providence Police Department.
Autism Program Printable-Flyer
Autism Alert Form (English) Autism Alert Form (Spanish) Autism Alert Form (Khmer) Autism Alert Form (Euro Portuguese)
Download a form and complete. Forms can be dropped-off at the Public Safety Complex (addressed to Captain Henry Remolina) or mailed to:
Captain Henry Remolina
Providence Public Safety Complex
325 Washington Street
Providence, R.I. 02903
For more information please call Captain Henry Remolina at 401-243-6101 or hremolina@providenceri.gov.
How will this registry help if my child/dependent adult goes missing?
When a child or dependent adult goes missing this is a stressful situation for the family. Our registration form collects information about the participant’s physical appearance, the most likely places the individual would go, as well as triggers, stimulants, and de-escalation techniques before an incident.
The dispatcher will be able to provide the information to every police officer in the area to look for the missing person, minimizing the amount of information that you need to provide during a stressful incident.
If the individual has not been reported and is incapable of effectively communicating their name to an officer, a computer check with the physical appearance may allow us to identify the individual more quickly. This will then allow us to use the contact information to connect with the parents/guardians.
Who has access to my child’s profile?
Providence Police personnel who require this information in the performance of their duties will have access to the information. There are strict regulations for accessing and disseminating information.
If I don’t live in Providence, can I still register my child/dependent adult on the registry?
If you do not live in Providence but your child/dependent adult comes to Providence regularly. (e.g. for work, school, daycare, etc.), then you should register. If the registrant is not in Providence regularly, there would be almost no benefit to registering.
Will I be notified when the annual renewal is required?
The renewals are the sole responsibility of the parent/guardian. It is recommended that you renew the registration during the month of the registrant’s birthday.
Can I update my profile more than every year if there are changes? How do I do that?
You may, however, only information that has a significant impact on policing response will be necessary. Some examples would include a change in address, school, or emergency contact. You do not need to report a change in hair cut or color, for example, as the police are familiar with the changes that can be made and are more likely to notice height, weight, and eye color.
As soon as I send the registration, will the information be immediately available in case police response is required?
No. The registration form will need to be entered to capture all relevant information. The process may take up to 2 weeks to be fully processed. You will receive a confirmation email from the police department. You will be assigned a “file number.”
Can individuals with other communication disorders participate with this registry? Or is it restricted to those who fall within the Autism Spectrum?
The Providence Police Department is looking to expand the registry in the future to include all members of our community who may find their communication abilities challenged or ineffective when interacting with police. Examples of this are persons with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s patients, or other endangered individuals.
After I receive my confirmation “File Number” will I need to quote this number when I call the police?
You will need to have this “File Number” to update the registration on an annual basis or to make any changes as they become relevant.
During high-stress situations, there is no expectation that you will remember the number, but merely that the individual has been registered. The Providence Police will be able to verify the information using the person’s name once we have been advised of the registration.
After my child/dependent adult is registered, and if there is an incident, do I need to do something to notify the police?
It is preferable that you let the police know that the individual is already registered. In doing so, the information will be immediately disseminated to the vehicles without having to ask the parents/guardians during a high-stress situation.