Health Equity Zones

Rhode Island’s Health Equity Zones Urge General Assembly to Restore Funding for Community Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2024

PROVIDENCE, RI – Leaders and advocates from Rhode Island’s fifteen Health Equity Zones (HEZ) are urging state lawmakers to restore over $1 million in core operational funding for this critical piece of the state’s public health infrastructure. Health Equity Zone leaders warn that gaps in funding could weaken connections between community members, community-serving organizations, and health care systems.

Health Equity Zones are recognized as a national best practice in community health, and have proven to improve health outcomes, lower costs, close equity gaps, and create opportunities for upward mobility. Health Equity Zones also develop community leadership, build civic engagement, and elevate grassroots power, empowering community members most affected by health inequities to help design their solutions.

The budget the McKee Administration submitted to the legislature did not include any portion of the $3.5 million necessary for core operations of Health Equity Zones. While some alternative funding sources have been identified, a sizable gap of over $1 million remains for fiscal year 2025. As competition for federal funds increases and federal COVID dollars decrease, it is important that we continue to invest in what worked before – and during – the pandemic. Health Equity Zone leaders and advocates believe it is essential that the program is prioritized for sustainable state funding.

Later today, the state’s Health Equity Zones will join the Rhode Island Department of Health and other health advocates at RIDOH’s annual Health Equity Zone Advocacy Day at 3:00 PM at the State House, beginning with a speaking program in the Bell Area.

“From the Newport Gas Outage to COVID, the East Bay HEZs were a vital part of the coordinated response in cities and towns that are geographically isolated from the rest of the state. Losing these HEZs would create a critical gap in the state’s public health infrastructure in our communities,” remarked Jessica Walsh, Executive Director of the Women’s Resource Center, backbone of the Newport Health Equity Zone.

“One of the most important indicators of a strong and growing economy is a healthy community,” said Anusha Venkataraman, Managing Director of ONE Central Providence, an initiative led by ONE Neighborhood Builders and convener of the Central Providence Opportunities HEZ. “Any gap in HEZ funding will create unnecessary disruption and could put access to care and other critical services that our neighbors depend on at risk. We hope that our partners in the General Assembly will take action to restore this vital and proven investment.”

“Washington County HEZ of RI is committed to nurturing a healthier and more resilient community, ensuring every individual can thrive,” shared Alison Croke, President & CEO of Wood River Health, backbone of the Washington County HEZ known as Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds. “Through various initiatives, including providing essential COVID-19 support during critical times, access to nutritious food, and mental health support services, as well as addressing housing and transportation needs, we’re actively shaping a future where well-being is attainable for all. However, reduced HEZ funding will disrupt our long-term upstream model efforts; we urge the General Assembly to swiftly allocate funds to continue our work.”

For nearly a decade in Rhode Island, Health Equity Zones have been a proven taxpayer investment:

• During COVID, Health Equity Zones acted as local health agencies and distributed half a million meals, four million masks, and nearly 330,000 tests. Health Equity Zones also played a vital role to support the McKee Administration’s work to accelerate vaccination rates and community trust when the COVID vaccines were first available.
• Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Rhode Island Health Equity Zones have served over 253,964 Rhode Islanders, connecting them to critical services and representing an estimated lifetime savings of up to $3.1 billion.
• Over the last decade, the Rhode Island Department of Health has secured $43 million which has helped leverage tens of millions of dollars of private investment across the state for place-based initiatives.

Leaders from the Health Equity Zones featured above are joined by representatives from Health Equity Zones across the state in urging for further investment in the Health Equity Zone infrastructure. Collaborating Health Equity Zones include: 02907 HEZ, Blackstone Valley HEZ, Bristol HEZ, Central Providence Opportunities HEZ, East Providence HEZ, Newport HEZ, OneCranston HEZ, Pawtucket / Central Falls HEZ, South Providence HEZ, Tri-County HEZ, Warwick HEZ, Warren HEZ, Washington County HEZ, West Warwick HEZ, and Woonsocket HEZ.