Warren Welcomes New Health Equity Zone Program

As part of the ongoing expansion of its Health Equity Zone (HEZ) initiative, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) recently announced the establishment of a new HEZ in Warren, RI. This new program will join RIDOH’s 14 other HEZs to encourage and equip neighborhoods and community partners to work collaboratively to create healthy places for people to live, learn, work, and play.

East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) will serve as the backbone agency supporting the Health Equity Zone in Warren, RI. In addition to Warren, EBCAP also serves as the backbone agency for both the East Providence and the Bristol HEZ. All three programs work in collaboration with diverse groups of community members and partners to build healthier, more resilient communities. This work involves promoting innovative, community-led approaches to help prevent chronic diseases and address the social, economic, and environmental conditions that impact community members’ overall health and wellness.

“The pandemic has highlighted the inequities in our communities that contribute to health risks and pose challenges to individuals achieving wellness in all aspects of their lives. It also has reinforced the value of Health Equity Zones in helping community members organize to help each other. EBCAP is honored to support the development of a HEZ in Warren, a community with many strengths to build upon and in which EBCAP already has a strong presence through its Recovery Center, Safe Stations Program, Head Start Program, COVID-19 testing pod, family visiting, and many other resources.” said Rita Capotosto, EBCAP Vice President of Family Development.

Warren Town Manager, Kate Michaud, states that the Town is very excited to welcome the newly established HEZ program. “We are looking forward to collaborating with the Warren HEZ and establishing community-led efforts to advance health and wellness initiatives that will help build a stronger, more resilient Warren,” relates Michaud.

East Bay Community Action Program is a private, non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation that provides a wide array of health and human services to the residents of Rhode Island’s East Bay, including the municipalities of East Providence, Barrington, Warren, Bristol, Little Compton, Tiverton, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport, and Jamestown. For more information about EBCAP visit www.ebcap.org. To learn more about the HEZ model in Rhode Island, visit www.health.ri.gov/hez.