Announcements

Discussion Draft of the Preliminary Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine

Public Comment Opportunities

Discussion Draft of the
Preliminary Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine
Public Listening Session
Sept. 2 | 12 to 5 pm ET
Register Now >>Written Comment Period
Sept. 1 – Sept. 4
More Information >>

Starting September 1, the National Academies will invite public comments on a Discussion Draft of the Preliminary Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine, part of a study commissioned by NIH and CDC. The study will recommend priorities to inform allocation of a limited initial supply of COVID-19 vaccine, taking into account factors such as racial/ethnic inequities and groups at higher risk due to health status, occupation, or living conditions.

Input from the public, especially communities highly impacted by COVID-19, is essential to produce a final report that is objective, balanced, and inclusive.A discussion draft of the preliminary framework
will be available September 1. Prepare your comments now to help shape the final report.Register Now! Public Listening Session

Wednesday, September 2 | 12:00 to 5:00 pm EDT
 Please join us for an open session in which members of the public will be invited to address the study committee (as individuals or on behalf of an organization). You can sign up now to make a comment. However, because time at the session will be limited, we cannot guarantee that everyone will have the opportunity to make an oral comment. Please consider submitting a written comment between September 1 and September 4 (more information below).Register

Written Comment Period: September 1 – 4
 Members of the public are encouraged to submit written comments for consideration by the study committee (as individuals or on behalf of an organization). The public comment period will be open for 4 days, from 12:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 1, until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, September 4. Members of the public will be able to download and review the discussion draft before submitting a comment through a form (uploaded documents accepted). All materials comments received will be placed in the committee’s Public Access File, and may be provided to the public upon request.
More Information

To learn more about the National Academies’ study process, see Frequently Asked Questions on the project webpage.Questions? Email COVIDVaccineFramework@NAS.edu

Mental Health Resources from NAMI (Online!)

NAMI Connection Recovery Support Groups

– Now over Zoom!!!

See Zoom Schedule

NAMI Connection is a free recovery support group for people living with any mental illness. NAMI Connection provides a place that offers respect, understanding, encouragement, and hope. You don’t need to register to attend. For more information about Connections, please call us at 401-331-3060 or email us at info@namirhodeisland.org.

NAMI Connection is a recovery support group program that offers respect, understanding, encouragement and hope. NAMI Connection groups are:

  • Free and confidential
  • Held weekly for 90 minutes 
  • Designed to connect, encourage, and support participants using a structured support group model
  • Led by trained facilitators living in recovery themselves

Currently NAMI Connections is being held over Zoom. Click here for the latest schedule (updated September 2020).

See Meeting Schedule

MAKING CONTACT: A TRAINING FOR COVID-19 CONTACT TRACERS

This is a free training

Introductory online course for entry-level COVID-19 contact tracers, for use by health agencies in rapid training of new contact tracers. The training will be augmented by state/local specific training required to orient individuals to jurisdiction-specific protocols. This training focuses on building knowledge for remote contact tracing; a subsequent release will include a module on field services.

Disinfectant Vouchers and PPE Orders

Healthcare practices, agencies, or facilities with 50 or fewer employees can request a disinfectant voucher when ordering PPE through the already-established Rhode Island Department of Health webforms. Most healthcare providers are able to now order surgical masks, face shields, and, if applicable, the disinfectant voucher through www.health.ri.gov/masks. Hospitals, EMS, nursing homes, assisted living communities, home health and hospice agencies, health centers, urgent care centers, and healthcare practices that are serving as respiratory care clinics are able to order PPE from www.health.ri.gov/ppe. Further, SupplyRI has put together a list of local Rhode Island businesses that sell PPE, sanitizing supplies, medical equipment, and cleaning services. If you’re interested in doing business with these companies, you can download the list here.

RI Department of Health

Age Friendly RI Virtual Community Center

Announcing Rhode Island’s Virtual Community Center!

Keeping our bodies healthy, minds sharp and spirits high.


The Age-Friendly RI Virtual Community Center is the place to go to connect, learn, and play online when in-person
community experiences are not possible.

Take part in a wide array of online activities – fitness and wellness, cooking and gardening, tech help, information and how-to sessions, classes, entertainment, games, social and cultural events, trips and tours – wherever you may be.


Visit us at https://agefriendlyri.org to find a full schedule of free, engaging activities every day. Click and enjoy!

Brought to you through a grant from the Tufts Health Plan and support from our many coalition partners.

CHW Training in Cardiovascular Health/Diabetes

Community Health Workers Association of Rhode Island Logo

Community Health Worker ONLINE Training:
Specialty Certification in Cardiovascular Disease/Diabetes Management

Topics include Motivational Interviewing and Social Determinants of Health, Stroke, Heart Disease, Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Pre-Diabetes, Diabetes, Healthy Eating and Weight Control, Lifestyle Interventions

This training fulfills the educational content hours requirement for the Rhode Island Certification Board’s application for Cardiovascular Health/Diabetes specialty endorsement. There are other components of that application.

July 15, 2020 – September 19, 2020

Wednesdays 5pm-7pm (ET) synchronous instruction
plus weekly 1-hour asynchronous lessons

This training is for certified
Community Health Workers only

Cost: Free
Apply by: July 10, 2020

To apply, link to application and please email your interest to David Zuleta at dzuleta@ric.edu

The training is presented by the
Community Health Worker Association of Rhode Island (CHWARI)
*Funded by the Rhode Island Department of Health