East Providence Health Equity Zone
Who We Are
In the summer of 2019 East Bay Community Action Program(EBCAP) became the backbone agency for one of several Health Equity Zone (HEZ) grants from the RI Department of Health (RIDOH). The East Providence Health Equity Zone project is a place-based initiative created to reduce and eliminate current health disparities and barriers to wellness. Through collaboration we work to empower residents with the skills needed to create community change.
Connect
Community stakeholders play an important role in improving the health and wellness of their fellow neighbors and city residents.
Collaborate
East Providence residents and representatives from various community organizations have formed work groups to address the following resident-identified initiatives:
- Housing
- Senior Health and Wellness
- Teen Health and Wellness
- Communications
- Behavioral Health
- Resident Engagement
Interested in joining a work group? Contact us at eprovehez@ebcap.org.
Community-Driven
The collaborative is representative of the East Providence community and state-wide alliances. The EP HEZ values community input and buy-in.
Collaborating Partners
- Behavioral Health Link (BH Link)
- Bradley Hospital
- Cape Verdean Progressive Center
- Children’s Friends, First Connections Program
- City of East Providence, Community Development Office
- East Bay Community Action Program* Backbone Agency
- East Providence Boys and Girls Club
- East Providence Area Chamber of Commerce
- East Providence Fire Department
- East Providence Police Department
- East Providence Prevention Coalition
- East Providence Public Library
- East Providence School Department
- East Urban Core Family Care Community Partnership
- East Providence Senior Center
- Family Service of Rhode Island
- Foster Forward
- Good Neighbors RI
- Hope Congregational Church
- Housing Works RI at Roger Williams University
- Jule’s Hope Chest
- Liana Cassar, State Representative District 66
- Linn Health and Rehabilitation
- Trinity Tabernacle Church
- Rhode Island Food Policy Council
- Rhode Island Parent Information Network
- Rhode Island Philharmonic & Music School
- Rhode Island Land Trust Council
- University of Rhode Island, SNAP-Ed
- United Healthcare, RIte-Smiles Program
- Valarie Lawson, State Senator District 14
Join Us
We’re looking for members. We invite local residents, community organizations, and businesses to join our working groups. If you would like to be a part of this exciting project, please contact us at 401-248-3674 or eprovhez@ebcap.org.
Current Areas of Focus
It is our hope that a focus on these action areas will help us begin the community work needed to address health inequities and build a stronger East Providence.
Education and Information Sharing
Increase community awareness of available resources across social, health, educational, and financial areas.
Community Resilience
Develop neighborhood-based networks that can quickly respond to community needs and emergency situations.
Support Health and Wellness
Enhance the availability of programs and resources that support the needs of all residents that bolster physical activity, healthy relationships, and healthy eating habits.
Increase Access to Health Services
Reduce barriers to accessing health services specifically mental and behavioral health.
Awarded Grants
Rhode to Equity
An initial 12-month learning collaborative designed to enhance EPHEZ’s ability to improve both health and social outcomes. EPHEZ, in collaboration with EBCAP and Integrated Healthcare Partners, is focusing on improving health outcomes of East Providence residents with diabetes through education and increased access to fresh produce.
Preschool Development
Aims to increase reach and access to home-based young childhood education services to local families. Programming includes “Family Music Time with the Phil,” a collaboration with Parents as Teachers and the Rhode Island Philharmonic School, Safe Sleep programming, and Incredible Years curriculum. It also places a Family Navigator within the community to assist and encourage families’ participation in home-based services.
COVID-19 Health Disparities
EPHEZ received funding to address outreach and education due to the on-going pandemic. If you or your organization needs masks, hand sanitizer, or other PPE, please contact us at eprovehez@ebcap.org.
Rhode to Equity: Community Health Workers
EPHEZ received additional funding from the Rhode Island Department of Health to address food insecurity and related barriers to health equity through the use of Community Health Workers.
