This information was shared in an email from Swanette Salazar CCHW, in her role as the Lead Community Health Worker Consultant – Rhode 2 Equity(CTC-RI). Some of this info is in the CHWARI Newsletter – some is not due to time issues. We will try to post updates like this on our website so that all resources are ‘out there!’ We are working on a way to coordinate communications better. 🙂

Hi everyone,

After a much-needed newsletter hiatus, I am back! I hope you all are able to take time to reflect on the amazing work you have all been doing this year! Cheers to you! ❤ You all do so much and are a huge part in making RI better, one interaction at a time.

Have you heard about…?

• The Pawtucket Central Falls CHW networking sessions are back! See schedule here and contact Cristy Romero RomeroCr@familyserviceri.org for more information and to register.

• 12/12 | 1pm MLPB Legal Problem-Solving Community of Practice  | Register here

• Check out the amazing MLPB RI Digest!

• The MCH Section at APHA is requesting participants for a study. This study is intended to understand the impact of environments, culture, and social experiences on Black Maternal-Fetal attachment, to bridge the knowledge gap, advance the connection to infant and early childhood development, inform health practices, and enhance the well-being of Black mothers and their infants. See flyer below and contact Tracey at MFARESEARCHTEA@GMAIL.COM

Advocacy & Legislation

• 11/12 | 1pm EST– APHA Legislative Update on congressional activity with Q&A. Join zoom here.
• 11/14 | 6-7:30pm: RIPTA public meeting to share your thoughts on the potential Kingston Station becoming a regional and multimodal transit center in South County! Check out this survey if you would like to attend.

• Providence Comprehensive Plan heads to full council for vote. Learn more about this plan here and how you can participate.
• Check the Bodily Freedom Forever Index to see where local candidates stand on fundamental human rights
• Public Language for Public Health Checklist
• 11/15 9-2pm – RIPIN 2024 Policy Forum. Learn more and register here.
• Center For Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces new policies to reduce maternal mortality, increase access to care, and advance health equity.
• Free Healthy Heart Ambassador Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Training opportunity from RIDOH. Space is limited, see attached flyer for more information. Register here.
• Bradley Conference Virtual Series. Learn more and register for the sessions here.

• 11/21 | 5-7:30pm – American Lung Association FREE event!  Register here. See attached PDF to share with others.

• National CHW Policy Working Group – Join us in a national ongoing conversation around federal developments, national advocacy opportunities, and promote CHW Unity. Learn more and register here.

• Environmental Council of RI 2023-2024 Green Report Card
• SAVE RIPTA coalition event. Learn more and buy tickets here.

Professional Development, Opportunities, Resources

• Perinatal Healthcare Workforce Enrichment Series by Black Mamas Matter Alliance – begins 11/13! Learn more and register here.
• 11/14 | 12-1pm webinar: Supporting Infant Feeding Goals in the First 4 Weeks. Download flier here. Register here. This is a training under the New England Public Health Training Center and requires you register for a free account.
• RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence training & events

• 11/12 Lifespan Community Health Ambassadors Virtual Lecture ( 12-1pm)
  • Let’s Talk About Diabetes: Strategies for Management and Patient Engagement
    • Register here
• See attached flyer for a Diabetes Prevention Program starting soon at the North Providence Library.
• Join the upcoming informational sessions to learn more on the RI Certified Professional Midwifery Equity Initiative Class of 2028. Download flier here. Learn more here.
  • Upcoming info sessions will be 11/14, 12/12, and 1/9 at 6pm

• 11/18 | 12:30-2pm Webinar: Working Together to Build Trust in Public Health

• 11/19 Virtual session 8:30a-10:30a – RIAIMH Community Conversations Series
  • Open Doors RI: Women and Children’s House  – Register here.
• 11/20 at 1pm – AMCHPs MCH Housing Champion Forum. PDF can be located here.
• 12/3 RIPIN Peer Mentor Panel with Advocates in Action. Learn more and register here.
• 12/10 | 12 to 1pm – Culturally Competent Palliative Care. Learn more and register here.
• CDC Overdose Resource Exchange (ORE) resources and tools
• Community Violence Prevention Resource for Action Resource packet

• October 28 webinar 1-2 pm EST. Register here.

• 11/12 virtual session 1-2pm: Using Assessment To Strengthen Support For Fathers And Families

Community Resources, Opportunities, & Events

• 11/14 | 5:30-6:30pm FSRI Foster parent information session. Register here.
  • Are you interested in becoming a foster parent? FSRI will be hosting a virtual information for those interested in providing care for a foster youth or interested in growing their family through adoption.
    • FUN FACT – November is National Adoption Month
    • Here are some local resources for families and foster youth
      • Adoption RI: https://adoptionri.org/
      • The Village: https://www.rivillage.org/
      • Foster Forward: https://www.fosterforward.net/
      • Foster Forward Youth Drop in Center: https://www.fosterforward.net/youth-dropin-center

• Free Flu and COVID vaccines. No registration required

• Upcoming LIHEAP events – 11/15 at FSRI and 11/22 at Iglesia Vision Evangelica
• 11/16 GHHI Community Health Fair at CCRI Liston Campus
• The Burriville Safe Sitter Program begins November 27^th. See attached flyer.
• PVD Bike Collective bike mechanics course – Open to all – 6 sessions running Monday evenings from 6-8:30pm from November 11^th to December 16^th. Learn more and register here.

 

• The Refugee Dream center is seeking donations and volunteers.
  • For more information about donations call 401-300-0544 or emails info@refugeedreamcenter.org
  • For more information about volunteering call 401-300-0544 or email volunteer@refugeedreamcenter.org

• Join BCBSRI and the Brown University School of Public Health for a panel discussion about the state of household food insecurity and for the release of the 2024 RI Life Index Finding.

Self-Care

• Article: The Mental Health Benefits of Nature – Spending time outdoors to refresh your mind
• Practicing Self-Care During Election Season
• Free Mindfulness Meditation Practice Session at the Warwick Center for the Arts
  • Always free. No meditation experience required. All welcome.
  • For Zoom link, send email request to meditateforwellbeing@gmail.com
  • For more program and schedule information, visit the Warwick Center for the Arts website(hyperlinked above) – or email meditateforwellbeing@gmail.com
• Still Together Mindfulness Mediation Community Newsletter
• Guided Meditation by Tara Brach
  
  

Articles + Videos + Podcasts

• Book: Rethinking Race & Ethnicity in Biomedical Research
• Podcast: AJPH Building Bridges Between Federal & Local Public Health Policies | Audio | Video
• December AJPH Issues
• American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) November Issue 
• Article: A Big New Trail in Little Rhody
• Podcast: Healthy Children Podcast – Product Safety: How to Know What to Buy
• Newborn Supply Kits Reduce Maternal Stress and Improve Trust in Government

Potential Funding Opportunities and Request for proposals

• NCCOR Funding Opportunities
• https://www.grants.gov/search-grants
• NACCHO RFP
• National Institutes of Health
• HRSA
• Justice Squared Racial Justice & Systems Change

Hakuna Matata!

Swanette

Swanette Salazar CCHW

Lead Community Health Worker – First Connections Program

Lead Community Health Worker Consultant – Rhode 2 Equity(CTC-RI)
salazarsw@familyserviceri.org

I use she/her/hers pronouns! How about you?

On October 25th, 2024, Franyelys “Frannie” West, proudly pictured holding a bouquet, celebrated the grand opening of RI Support Network LLC at 48 Power Road in Pawtucket.

Franyelys West, a dynamic 27-year-old Latina entrepreneur from Rhode Island, has launched her first independent community health worker business, RI Support Network LLC. Through partnerships with local directors, state representatives, and attorneys, Franyelys has created a support network dedicated to empowering families with accessible health and legal resources.

Frannie shares her motivation, “RI Support Network was born from my vision to bridge gaps in our healthcare system with trusted, compassionate support. I believe everyone, regardless of background, deserves access to the resources they need for a healthier, more resilient life. Our mission is to uplift our community, ensuring every voice is heard and every need is met.”

RI Support Network LLC offers personalized services to help clients navigate healthcare, access social services, and find legal resources. The team welcomes walk-ins and takes referrals, with bilingual staff ready to assist. Franyelys and her team are dedicated to making support as accessible as possible, whether in person, by phone, or through text. For more information, call (401) 376-2726 or email fw@risupportnetwork.org.

Visit their new website at risupportnetwork.org to learn more about their mission and how they’re making a difference in the community.

10/21/24

Dear CHW community,

It is with a grateful heart that I inform you I am resigning as Director of the Community Health Worker Association of Rhode Island. Throughout these past 7 years, I have been deeply inspired by community health workers’ compassion, professional dedication, and reverence for human dignity. You have shifted my own professional compass so much that I have taken a position as a therapist at Newport Mental Health. This will allow me to work close to home and serve my neighbors needing behavioral health support on Aquidneck Island.

CHWARI has a lot to be proud of. Building on the grassroots sown in 2009, the association has grown to include over 1800 subscribers to our newsletter and has supported the professional development of several hundred CHWs through training, certification, and leadership opportunities. Through our parent entity, the Institute for Education in Healthcare at Rhode Island College, we have attracted federal and state monies, CHWs from diverse workplaces, and workforce allies across the state to help fortify this invaluable workforce. I wish you all – CHWs and Allies – the best as you forge financial sustainability of this role, grounding CHW work in local community strengths and cultures, and being guided by CHWs’ lived expertise in surmounting barriers and thriving.

Please be assured CHWARI will continue its rich communications outreach, roll out professional development opportunities and connect CHWs with policy actions, job announcements and certification guidance. To that end, please keep sending your newsletter items to Laura Blackwell. Tonya Glantz, Executive Director of IEH, supporting CHWARI since its revival in 2017, will be fielding general inquiries while CHWARI seeks its new leader. In upcoming months, CHWARI will form its new Advisory Council to take the association forward, guided by authentic CHW voices.
Thank you for sharing with me yourselves, your stories, your expertise and your passion for serving the people in this state.

Take care,
Sarah Lawrence

 

The next Advanced Navegante ten-week cohort run by Clinica Esperanza starts this upcoming Monday, September 30th! 

This program is appropriate for those who are bilingual (English and Spanish) and looking to be trained as CHWs. Due to grant limitations CHWARI cannot offer as many core trainings to the public as we did last year. Training is needed to apply for CHW Certification.  If you are bilingual and are looking for CHW training – jump on this chance. 

Their program typically includes a Medical Interpreter module as well as CHW/Navegante Training.  

For more information reach out to Jackie Medrano at JackieM@aplacetobehealthy.org.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 2nd starting at 4pm, a major bill concerning CHWs will be heard at the RI State House.

Currently, CHW services are not billable to private insurance which leaves CHWs mostly funded by grants or Medicaid. This is not sustainable and many grants will end this year! In addition to giving more patients access to vital services, passing this bill (S2606, Sponsored Senator DiMario) would provide more of the job security CHWs deserve! 

There are two urgent ways to advocate!

1. Testify in person!!!! The session will open at 4pm on 4/2 in the Senate Lounge at the RI State House (accessible by busses 50, 55, 56 & 57!) Be heard! General Assembly members will welcome testimony from CHWs and medical providers. You would be able to speak to lawmakers for three minutes!

Logistics: Be there by 4pm and prepare for a long night as the timing of hearings can be unpredictable. Sign-up sheets to testify are usually posted on a table outside the hearing room. Look for Lina Roman, CHWARI’s Bilingual Program Coordinator, near the sign up sheet. Thank you to her and to all CHWs and allies who can make the trip! 
Address is: 82 Smith St, Providence, RI 02903.  Enter your location here to find a bus route. Ample free parking can be found in the RI Dept. of Health Parking Lot after 3 PM.

2. Write an email!  Due by Tuesday 4/2 at 3pm – Write a letter expressing your support. Details on what to include and where to send are on page 2 of this alert compiled by the Washington County Children’s Coalition. 

Let’s pass this important legislation together! 

Read the full details of bill RI S2606.
See Senate Agenda here.
See a thoughtful alert created by the Washington County Children’s Coalition spelling out their reasons for supporting these bills and details on how to advocate.

On April 5 at District Hall in Downtown Providence, many CHWs champions and allies came together to collectively envision what’s possible for CHWs in Rhode Island. Of the 91 participants, at least 38 were CHWs! Soma Saha, MD, MS from WE in the World led the activities, with support from the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Care Transformation Collaborative of RI. Many challenging topics were discussed in-depth in large groups and breakout groups over four hours.

Next Steps

This collaborative process will continue over two online Zoom meetings on May 3 (3:30 – 4:30 p.m.) and June 7 (1:30-3 p.m.). 

All CHWs, allies, and policy-makers are invited to participate. All participants from the April 5 CHW Roadmap Summit will automatically receive meeting invitations. (This includes anyone who registered in advance, but was unable to attend.) Members of the RI CHW Strategy Team will also automatically receive meeting invitations.

If you are also interested in attending the next CHW Roadmap Design meetings on May 3 and/or June 7, please email the RIDOH CHW Program at: Geraldine.mcphee.ctr@health.ri.gov.

Thanks to all who participated on April 5!