PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Gina M. Raimondo today announced $500,000 in community enhancement grants to organizations committed to helping older Rhode Islanders and individuals with disabilities thrive in their communities.
The grants are supported with funds from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services' Money Follows the Person program, a federally funded program designed to shift long-term care spending from facility-based care to community-based care. The grants will also support Rhode Islanders with disabilities."
"All Rhode Islanders deserve to live healthy, fulfilling, and purposeful lives in their communities," said Governor Raimondo. "These grants support our goal of shifting Rhode Island's long-term care system toward one that includes a responsive set of community-based services focused on addressing Rhode Islanders' evolving needs."
Governor Raimondo announced the grants alongside leadership from the state's health and human services agencies and recipients of the grants during a press event at Federal Hill House in Providence.
The Governor has been committed to improving how Rhode Island delivers supports and long-term care to older residents and those with disabilities. Last year, she and her cabinet held a series of community conversations focused on promoting choice and opportunity for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
"The community conversations were critical to helping us identify the types of programs and services our seniors and residents with disabilities view as a need in their neighborhoods and communities," said Lisa Vura-Weis, Acting Secretary of EOHHS. "These grants reflect EOHHS' goal of improving and expanding community-based services to our residents."
The complete list of grant recipients:
• One Neighborhood Builders, Providence - $144,740: To enhance services to residents of Central Providence Village by offering transportation, community engagement, health and wellness support, healthy food access, and home repairs. • Sherlock Center, Providence - $113,700: To train caregivers in positive behavior and crisis prevention strategies for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other complex behavioral challenges. • Providence Village, Providence - $50,000 (year one) and $30,000 (year two): To help transition to the Village Common, a single non-profit organization that supports participating villages with a governing board and an executive director, administration, and operational support. • Thundermist Health Center, Warwick - $51,746: To support the Rainbow Wellness Program, which assists older LGBTQ adults and LGBTQ adults with disabilities to live independently and remain in their community. • Westbay Community Action, Warwick - $50,000: To support "Can O' Peas," a program that delivers emergency food, USDA commodities, and fresh produce monthly to individuals in Kent County. • St. Martin de Porres, Providence - $38,094: To develop a volunteer program that increases community participation and supports the at-home living situations of older adults. • Town of Foster - $10,860 (year one) & $10,860 (year two): To provide weekly, non-medical transportation to older residents of Foster and those with disabilities.