A Sample of Current Health-Related Projects
Current projects include programs representing all five schools of the college. They include community partnerships in primary care, hospitals, adult daycare, community and behavioral health and school districts.
Rhode Island Building Long-Term Sustainability in State Lifespan Respite Programs
Lead: Blanchette, Lynn
Department/School: School of Nursing (SON)
Contact info: lblanchette@ric.edu
Funding source: RI Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA)
Focus Area(s): Services for Older Adults, Workforce development
Brief Description: Rhode Island Department of Human Services/Division of Elderly Affairs (DEA), partnering with RIC, the Caregiver Alliance of Rhode Island, United Way of Rhode Island (UWRI), and other key stakeholders, are working together to enhance and expand the availability of Lifespan respite services in the State. Objectives are to: 1) expand the Rhode Island student nursing workforce development initiative to cover all higher education nursing programs in the state, including 8-10 RIC SON nursing students per year for three years; 2) enhance the State's respite program through the newly incorporated Caregiver Alliance; and 3) improve awareness about respite services and access to respite service, to include continued funding of the CareBreaks respite program that was implemented under a previous Lifespan Respite grant.
Mental Health of Adolescents in Latino Immigrant Families during Heightened Immigration Enforcement
Lead: Brabeck, Kalina
Department/School: Counseling and Educational Psychology, Feinstein School of Education and Human Development
Contact info: kbrabeck@ric.edu
Funding source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Focus Area(s): Behavioral Health, Child and Family Services, Public Health, Social Determinants of Health
Brief Description: A collaboration with the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) to conduct a school-based, multi-site study of the mental health of adolescents in Latino immigrant families including youth born in Latin America and those born in the United States to Latin American parents. The study team will produce and disseminate a research report, including quantitative and qualitative findings and recommendations, to the local school districts involved as well as national audiences. The study will be undertaken in places with contrasting immigration enforcement climates, as defined by the level of cooperation between local authorities and ICE (RI and Houston, TX).
Medication Assisted Therapy and Treatment of Opiate Users: Program Evaluation
Lead: Connolly, Christine
Department/School: Marketing and Management, School of Business
Contact info: cconnolly@ric.edu
Funding source:RI BHDDH/SAMHSA
Focus Area(s): Behavioral Health, Public Health
Brief Description: RI BHDDH was awarded a 3-year SAMHSA grant to research Medication Assisted Treatment of Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction among high-risk populations in the state. Rhode Island College is conducting the program evaluation. The college’s role on this community-based intervention includes oversight of data collection and management, including analysis and reporting on performance measures in two categories: building state infrastructure and collection and analysis of participant level data.
Assessing Health Literacy (HL) and Building HL Skills in Vulnerable Populations and Healthcare Workers
Lead: Cummings, Carol
Department/School: Health and Physical Education Department, Feinstein School of Education and Human Development (FSEHD)
Contact info: ccummings@ric.edu
Funding source: Rhode Island Health System Transformation Project (HSTP), EOHHS
Focus Area(s): Public Health, Social Determinants of Health, Workforce Development
Brief Description: Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island are partnering to understand the role limited health literacy plays in poor health status, and develop health promotion and professional educational frameworks that address health literacy skills, cultural competence and social determinants of health to rectify inequities. The goals of this proposal are to: 1) measure health literacy among RI Medicaid beneficiaries; 2) compile a summary report with recommendations for frameworks to build health literacy skills and capacity in Medicaid beneficiaries and the health care workforce; and 3) communicate the summary report to key stakeholders. Twenty undergraduates in health-related programs at RIC and URI will conduct the assessment at three health centers in RI, where they will develop pre-professional data collection skills essential for community and public health work.
RI Veterans Relief Fund at RIC
Lead: Darcy, Monica
Department/School: Counseling and Educational Psychology, Feinstein School of Education and Human Development
Contact info: mdarcy@ric.edu
Funding source: RI Office of Veterans Affairs (RIOVA)
Focus Area(s): Workforce Development, Veterans Affairs, Social Determinants of Health
Brief Description: The purpose of this project is to establish a Veterans Relief Fund for RI veterans attending RIC. These funds contribute to the stability of those students who show need for short-term monetary support for items such as rent/mortgage, food, gas, and utilities during their studies. This project will serve an estimated 55 students per semester who are veterans, RIC students, and RI residents. It will provide emergency financial support up to $1500 to cover basic needs.
RI Early Intervention Training and Technical Assistance
Lead: Dowd-Eagle, Shannon
Department/School: The Sherlock Center; and the Counseling and Educational Psychology, Feinstein School of Education and Human Development
Contact info:
seagle@ric.edu
Funding source: RI Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)
Focus Area(s): Workforce development, Child and family services
Brief Description: This project is in its eighth year of a contract with EOHHS to provide training and technical assistance to all Early Intervention service providers in the state. Specifically, the Sherlock Center will work closely with EOHHS to provide the state system, community partners, individual El programs, the workforce, and El families with materials, publications, professional development opportunities, and other assistance.
University Center for Excellence in Education: Early Childhood
Lead: Dowd-Eagle, Shannon
Department/School: The Sherlock Center; and the Counseling and Educational Psychology, Feinstein School of Education and Human Development
Contact info: seagle@ric.edu
Funding source: Subaward from University of Connecticut through fund from the US Department of Education
Focus Area(s): Workforce development, Child and family services
Brief Description: RIC has been contracted by the University of Connecticut to work on a personnel training grant to include: 1) developing a manual for the implementation of a Train-the-Trainers model; 2) implementing a the model for training and technical assistance on the Pyramid Model, which will use a district identified leadership team to deliver peer coaching and support; and 3) evaluating the effectiveness of the Pyramid Model.
Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program
Lead: Filinson, Rachel
Department/School: Sociology Department – Gerontology Program, School of Arts and Sciences
Contact info: rfilinson@ric.edu
Funding source: Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)/URI
Focus Area(s): Services for Older Adults, Workforce Development
Brief Description: The Rhode Island Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (RI-GWEP) is a comprehensive statewide demonstration project, involving URI, RIC, Brown, Care New England, health care quality control organizations, and other partners. It is aimed at transforming health care for older adults by integrating primary care and geriatrics training. The four overarching objectives of this project are: 1) prepare health professions trainees to practice in and lead integrated geriatrics and primary care delivery systems; 2) develop providers who can assess and address the needs of older adults and their families by integrating interprofessional geriatrics education into primary care delivery systems to provide coordinated, comprehensive, patient/family-centered health care; 3) develop and offer community-based educational programs for patients, families, and caregivers to improve the management of multiple chronic conditions; and 4) provide ADRD education to health professions students, providers, patients, families and caregivers.
RIC COEXIST
Lead: Glantz, Tonya
Department/School: Institute for Education in Healthcare, School of Business
Contact info:
tglantz@ric.edu
Funding source: RI Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)
Focus Area(s): Physical Health, Child and Family Services, Workforce Development
Brief Description: The second year of this multi-focused project for HIV/AIDS education will include:
- Early Intervention Services (EIS) related to HIV/AIDS education and risk reduction on college campuses
- Integrated Intensive Case Management (ICM) to address: current limitations in services available to persons with HIV; and the need to fully integrate behavioral and physical health into HIV care. RIC students are engaged in multi-disciplinary service learning with AIDS Service Organizations.
- Building Capacity for the Future HIV Workforce by expanding interest in HIV/AIDS careers through higher education partnerships across disciplines and building HIV career pathways for undergraduate and graduate students
- Professional Development Coordination to serve as the convening body for Ryan White grantees to document professional development opportunities, eliminate duplicated efforts, identify areas of need and promote comprehensive curriculum development
Developing a Trauma Certificate Program as a Continuing Education Opportunity
Lead: Harvey, Daniel
Department/School: School of Social Work
Contact info: dharvey@ric.edu
Funding source: Rhode Island Health System Transformation Project (HSTP), EOHHS
Focus Area(s): Workforce Development, Behavioral Health
Brief Description: This project will create an interprofessional targeted series of workshops using existing evidence-based knowledge supporting assessment and treatment techniques for remediation of the after effects of traumatic life events. The CGS in Trauma will increase capacity for existing Master's Level and Post Master's level clinicians from multidisciplinary professions to provide trauma-informed assessment and family centered treatment supports for Medicaid clients and other traumatized populations. This CGS builds upon evidence-based teaching and treatment models provided through the research of National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) and other Trauma-Informed Treatment models.
Establishing a Five-year BSW/MSW Program
Lead: Meade, Jennifer and Becker, Wendy (Co-PI)
Funding source: Rhode Island Health System Transformation Project (HSTP), EOHHS
Department/School: School of Social Work
Contact info: jmeade1@ric.edu and
wbecker@ric.edu
Focus Area(s): Workforce Development, Behavioral health, Social Determinants of Health
Brief Description: This project will develop a research-based curriculum and launch a five-year BSW/MSW program that will create a more informed and diverse workforce to better meet the needs of Medicaid beneficiaries and other populations seeking healthcare. This project was developed to examine other similar models in the nation, develop a curriculum based on our research, and get necessary institutional approval to establish a BSW/MSW pathway, with specific focus for under-represented students in the field of social work.
Community Preceptor Project
Lead: Jayashree Nimmagadda
Department/School: School of Social Work
Contact info: jnimmagadda@ric.edu
Funding source: State Innovation Model (SIM Project)
Focus Area(s): Workforce Development, Behavioral health, Physical healthcare
Brief Description: The Community Preceptor Project trains and monitors the efforts of recruiting and training health care provider preceptors, who work in community-based settings and agree to provide preceptorship experience with students from CCRI, RIC, and URI. The preceptors will support integrated, interprofessional care for clients and patients that responds to their needs, is consistent with the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies and the goals of SIM. Training components for preceptors are designed and delivered by members of the faculty of CCRI, RIC, and URI who are currently involved in planning for the project.
Mental and Behavioral Health Training Grants
Funding source: Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Lead: Nimmagadda, Jayashree
Department/School: School of Social Work
Contact info: jnimmagadda@ric.edu
Focus Area(s): Workforce Development, Behavioral health
Brief Description: The grant aims to increase the number of trained clinical social workers to serve persons who are at risk of developing or have a behavioral health disorder. Students are trained to work in interprofessional teams in settings that are working towards or have instituted the integration of behavioral health and primary care. Faculty and field supervisors will also participate in interprofessional training to provide quality behavioral health services and enhance the MSW curricula offerings with an emphasis on evidence-based interventions (both prevention and clinical) appropriate for integrated behavioral health settings, assessment, and intervention.
Rhode Island SBIRT Training and Resource Center
Lead: Nimmagadda, Jayashree
Department/School: School of Social Work
Contact info: jnimmagadda@ric.edu
Funding source: State Innovation Model (SIM)
Focus Area(s): Workforce Development, Behavioral health
Brief Description: This project trains health care professionals to screen clients for substance use and abuse using an evidenced-based model known as Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT). A priority for behavioral health transformation in Rhode Island is to decrease the use, and impact, of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. In response to this need, the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) has received a Collaborative Agreement for Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA). Over a five year period, this grant offers alcohol, drug and tobacco screening to 250,000 Rhode Island adults. Operationally, the SBIRT Training and Resource Center will provide ongoing training to the SBIRT workforce as well as other providers, collaborating with existing SBIRT providers/programs throughout the state.
Behavioral Health Certificate Training
Lead: Raimondo, Marianne and Giroux, Jenifer (Co-PI)
Department/School: Institute for Education in Healthcare, School of Business
Contact info: mraimondo@ric.edu
Funding source: RI Department of Labor and Training (DLT)
Focus Area(s): Workforce Development, Behavioral health, Physical Health
Brief Description: In an effort to support workforce development efforts in Rhode Island, RIC has partnered with employers to align training and education, career pathways/ladders, and career advancement opportunities with the needs of health care employers, current healthcare organization vacancies, and projections for job growth in health care. As a result, we have developed a 30-hour training program to introduce front-line healthcare workers to the challenges, concepts and workplace applications of behavioral health. The overall goal of this Training is that front line staff will develop a useful awareness of behavioral health that will inform their approach to their work responsibilities within healthcare contexts. Additionally, it includes the creation of a Leadership Development training program to support supervisors and managers in all healthcare organizations to increase retention and promote career advancement.
Behavioral Health Provider Workforce Development
Lead: Raimondo, Marianne
Department/School: Institute for Education in Healthcare, School of Business
Contact info: mraimondo@ric.edu
Funding source: Subaward with John Snow Institute (JSI) through the State Innovation Model (SIM)
Focus Area(s): Workforce Development, Behavioral health
Brief Description: This project, led by the JSI Research and Training Institute in partnership with the Rhode Island Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council (SUMHLC) and Rhode Island College, trains BHDDH licensed provider organizations and their staff in the delivery of evidence-based practices (EBPs) and core competencies. It also supports behavioral healthcare undergraduate and graduate programs to increase their focus on EBPs and core competencies in student course work as well as internships and field placements. RIC will also be involved in the creation of a Leadership Development program for managers, supervisors and executives in behavioral health agencies and the delivery of leadership training. The goal of bolstering staff development in behavioral health is to ultimately improve the care patients with behavioral health disorders receive in RI healthcare organizations.
CCA Behavioral Health for Senior Housing
Lead: Raimondo, Marianne
Department/School: Institute for Education in Healthcare, School of Business
Contact info: mraimondo@ric.edu
Funding source: Rhode Island Foundation
Focus Area(s): Behavioral Health, Services for Older Adults
Brief Description: This proposal supports the inclusion of behavioral health services in a senior housing complex and assisted living community. Many older adults suffer from mental illness and/or substance use yet are unable to access services due to a lack of affordability, transportation, awareness of services and other reasons. Consequently these needs go unmet. A full time mental health clinician, located in senior housing, is able to establish rapport with residents and identify signs and symptoms of mental illness or substance use and then provide services or referrals in a timely manner. A pilot of this concept was implemented at Charlesgate, a housing and assisted living community in Providence, RI through a subcontract with Community Care Alliance. This grant extends that pilot to additional housing complexes and allow for an evaluation of the program to determine whether the concept of locating behavioral health services in the community is a feasible idea."
DEA State Plan on Aging
Lead: Raimondo, Marianne and Filinson, Rachel (Co-PI)
Department/School: Institute for Education in Healthcare; School of Business
Contact info:
mraimondo@ric.edu
Funding source: RI Department of Elderly Affairs
Focus Area(s):
Brief Description: The DEA is currently preparing its next State Plan to take effect October 1, 2019. To assist in the development of effective goals, strategies, and objectives for the next State Plan, DEA seeks to obtain the views of older Rhode Islander's regarding their needs and also regarding the effectiveness of and gaps in presently existing services and program. The purpose of this effort is to secure expertise from RI College's Age Friendly RI staff to assist in assessing: 1) the needs of older individual through the assessment of the needs of older individuals within RI; 2) evaluating the effectiveness of programs and services for Rl's older individuals; and 3) working to remedy gaps and deficiencies in presently existing services and programs.
Nursing Home Behavioral Health Training
Lead: Raimondo, Marianne
Department/School: Institute for Education in Healthcare, School of Business
Contact info: mraimondo@ric.edu
Funding source: Subaward with Healthcentric Advisors through the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS)
Focus Area(s): Workforce Development, Behavioral health, Services for Older Adults
Brief Description: The Rhode Island College Institute for Education in Healthcare partnered with Healthcentric Advisors and the Mental Health Leadership Council of RI to train nursing home staff (both professional and paraprofessional) to serve residents with behavioral health needs.
Disseminating Eating Disorders Education and Treatment across Multiple Levels of Care
Lead: Tortolani, Christina and Goldschmidt, Andrea (Co-PI)
Department/School: Counseling and Educational Psychology, Feinstein School of Education and Human Development
Contact info: ctortolani@ric.edu and
andrea.goldschmidt@lifespan.org
Funding source: Rhode Island Health System Transformation Project (HSTP), EOHHS
Focus Area(s): Behavioral health, Physical health, Workforce Development
Brief Description: This project will develop training opportunities for master’s-level and pre-doctoral psychology students in evidence-based assessment and treatment of adolescent eating disorders (EDs) and provide the healthcare workforce with the knowledge and competence to recognize early symptoms of and intervention strategies for EDs. Collectively, these goals will address the shortage of ED services available in RI, particularly those that are accessible to the Medicaid population, and encourage healthcare professionals to practice integrated, team-based care. Partner organizations/collaborators include researchers at The Miriam Hospital; primary care practices in the community; the Providence Center, a community mental health agency; ED treatment providers at Hasbro Children’s Hospital; and psychology trainees at the University of Rhode Island, which will provide multidisciplinary ED shadowing/training opportunities across multiple levels of care.
