Rhode Island Public Health Foundation Inc

PRIMARY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE INTEGRATION: EXPANDING ACCESS FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES - RHODE ISLAND EXPERIENCES HIGH RATES OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE AMONG UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. THE FOCUS OF THE PROJECT “PRIMARY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE INTEGRATION: EXPANDING ACCESS FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES” IS TO IMPLEMENT INTEGRATED CARE SERVICES FOR THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND QUEER (LGBTQ+) COMMUNITY WITH A FOCUS ON INDIVIDUALS WHO IDENTIFY AS HISPANIC/LATINX AND OTHER UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS (I.E., THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE UNSTABLE HOUSING). SPECIFIC POPULATIONS WILL INCLUDE ADULTS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI), ADULTS WHO HAVE A CO-OCCURRING MENTAL ILLNESS AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CONDITION OR CHRONIC DISEASE, INDIVIDUALS WITH A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD), AND INDIVIDUALS WITH CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS (COD). THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IS TO IMPLEMENT BIDIRECTIONAL INTEGRATED CARE SERVICES, INCLUDING EVIDENCE-BASED SCREENING, ASSESSMENT, DIAGNOSIS, PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND RECOVERY SERVICES FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, AND CO-OCCURRING PHYSICAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND CHRONIC DISEASES SUCH AS HIV, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STIS), AND CHRONIC HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV) INFECTION. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL AIM TO DEVELOP CULTURALLY CONGRUENT APPROACHES TO PROVIDING THESE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, THE EPICENTER OF MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE USE, HIV AND OTHER CHRONIC DISEASES IN THE STATE. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THERE ARE NO INTEGRATED PROGRAMS FOR MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AND PRIMARY CARE FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IN RHODE ISLAND. IN RESPONSE TO THIS UNMET NEED AND TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES AMONG LGBTQ+, HISPANIC/LATINX, AND UNSTABLY HOUSED INDIVIDUALS, THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (RIDOH) IS PARTNERING WITH RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE (RIPHI), OPEN DOOR HEALTH (THE ONLY COMMUNITY-BASED LGBTQ+ CLINIC IN THE STATE), THE PROVIDENCE CENTER (THE MAIN AND LARGEST COMMUNITY-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER IN PROVIDENCE) AND THE MIRIAM HOSPITAL, A MAJOR BROWN UNIVERSITY AFFILIATE. THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE PROVIDING CLINIC- AND COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR LGBTQ+, HISPANIC/LATINX, AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES (GOAL 1), PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES FOR LGBTQ+, HISPANIC/LATINX, AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES (GOAL 2), AND PROVIDING COMMUNITY-BASED PRIMARY CARE AND OTHER SPECIALTY CARE FOR LGBTQ+, HISPANIC/LATINX, AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES (GOAL 3). WE AIM TO SCREEN OVER 1,000+ UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY (5,000+ TOTAL DURING THE PROJECT) AND ENROLL APPROXIMATELY 125 AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY (625 TOTAL DURING THE PROJECT).

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WITH THIS PROJECT, WE PROPOSE TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE FOOD ON THE MOVE PROGRAMTO MEET THE NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS WITH CHRONIC DISEASE. FOTM IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT NOW, AS LOW-INCOME OLDER ADULTS ARE FACED WITH ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES OF GETTING AND AFFORDING NUTRITIOUS FOOD, AND MANAGING CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS AMID THE COVID-19 CRISIS. WE WILL INCREASE THE PURCHASE AND CONSUMPTION OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES BY LOW-INCOME OLDER SNAP PARTICIPANTS BY:O IMPROVING MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS TO ENGAGE MORE SNAP PARTICIPANTS IN SHOPPING AT FOTM ON A REGULAR BASIS.O DEVELOPING TARGETED EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PURCHASE AND CONSUMPTION AND MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASE THROUGH IMPROVED DIET.O EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF OUR PROGRAM CHANGES ON FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PURCHASE AND CONSUMPTION, FOOD INSECURITY, AND MANAGEMENT OF DIET-RELATED CHRONIC DISEASE AND DISSEMINATING OUR RESULTS TO INFORM STATE AND NATIONAL PROGRAMS. WE ARE PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON EXPANDING SNAP BENEFITS TO GROCERY STORES TO INCREASE ACCESS FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, A GROUP FACING INCREASE FOOD INSECURITY AND FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY DUE TO COVID-19.

'FOOD ON THE MOVE' IS A MOBILE MARKET PROGRAM THAT BRINGS FRUIT AND VEGETABLES TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. 'FOOD ON THE MOVE' IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM OF THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE (RIPHI). IN 2014, RIPHI RECEIVED A FINI PILOT AWARD TO ESTABLISH A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND TO MEASURE ITS IMPACT ON ACCESS AND CONSUMPTION OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. WE SUCCESSFULLY CREATED A DIGITAL POINT-OF-SALE SYSTEM THAT ISSUES FINANCIAL INCENTIVES AND FACILITATES PROGRAM EVALUATION. WE ALSO FORMALLY EVALUATED OUR PROGRAMMATIC IMPACT: WE DISSEMINATED OVER $35,000 IN SNAP INCENTIVES, SERVED 3,000 LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS, AND SOLD OVER $120,000 IN PRODUCE. WE PROPOSE EXPANDING THE 'FOOD ON THE MOVE' PROGRAM IN ORDER TO: 1) CONTINUE PROVIDING THOUSANDS OF RI SNAP RECIPIENTS WITH FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO PURCHASE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES; 2) INCREASE THE REDEMPTION RATE OF SNAP NUTRITION INCENTIVES FROM 80% TO 100% BY ENHANCING OUR INCENTIVE STRUCTURE; 3) INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SNAP RECIPIENTS WHO PURCHASE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AFTER THE 15TH OF THE MONTH BY 30%; AND 4) EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NEW INCENTIVE STRUCTURE. USDA FINI PROJECT GRANT FUNDING WILL ALLOW US TO ACHIEVE THE AFOREMENTIONED GOALS AND WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INCREASED PURCHASE AND CONSUMPTION OF F&V BY SNAP RECIPIENTS--THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE FINI PROGRAM. THIS PROPOSED PROGRAM SUPPORTS IMPROVED DIETARY BEHAVIORS, AND IN THE LONG RUN, WILL CONTRIBUTE TO DECREASED PREVALENCE RATES OF, AND DISPARITIES ASSOCIATED WITH, FOOD-RELATED CHRONIC DISEASES.

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATION DOES BUSINESS AS THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE (RIPHI). RIPHI’S MISSION IS TO ELIMINATE HEALTH DISPARITIES IN RHODE ISLAND AND BEYOND. RIPHI DEVELOPS INNOVATIVE PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS, CONDUCTS TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH, AND TRAINS STUDENTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTITIONERS. IN MARCH 2020, RIPHI OPENED OPEN DOOR HEALTH, RHODE ISLAND’S ONLY LGBTQ CLINIC. LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF PROVIDENCE, OPEN DOOR HEALTH PROVIDES PRIMARY, SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES TO RHODE ISLAND’S DIVERSE COMMUNITY. RIPHI OVERSEES MANY OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ONE OF THE LARGEST MOBILE PRODUCE MARKETS IN THE COUNTRY CALLED FOOD ON THE MOVE. RIPHI ALSO PARTNERS WITH OVER 200 FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO FIGHT HIV STIGMA THROUGH FAITH IN ACTION. THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS AND CLIENTS RIPHI SERVES HAVE GROWN EXPONENTIALLY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, AS HAVE OUR BUDGET AND NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES. THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CLINICAL AND OFFICE SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE OUR GROWING STAFF AND SUITE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND CLINICAL SERVICES. THIS APPROPRIATION WILL ALLOW RIPHI TO DEVELOP ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS AS WELL AS EXPANDED MEDICAL OFFICE SPACE IN RESPONSE TO GROWING CLIENT VOLUME AND DEMAND FOR SERVICES. THIS EXPANSION WILL BETTER INTEGRATE ADMINISTRATIVE AND CLINICAL OPERATIONS AND ENHANCE PROGRAMMATIC COORDINATION ACROSS RIPHI INITIATIVES. ADDITIONAL SPACE WILL ALLOW RIPHI TO MORE THAN QUADRUPLE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THE ORGANIZATION SERVES EACH YEAR.

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS

RHODY FOOD ON THE MOVE

RHODY FOOD ON THE MOVE

RHODY FOOD ON THE MOVE

EXPANDING SNAP NUTRITION INCENTIVES TO RETAIL SETTINGS

IMPLEMENTING AN EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH LITERACY APPROACH TO ADDRESS COVID-19 AMONG RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND