East Providence Gets $91.5K Health Grant For Senior Center

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — East Providence was awarded a $91,500 grant from the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging to expand its public health workforce.

City officials said the $91,500 grant will be used to hire a part time community health worker who will work out of the Robert Rock Senior Center in East Providence. The community health worker will conduct a wide range of public health services and support for older adults and adults with disabilities and their caregivers.

Services include COVID-19 vaccines, boosters, and testing, transition and diversion services from high-risk congregate settings to community living and activities that address social isolation and social determinants of health.

"We are so very thankful to the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging for selecting the Robert Rock Senior Center as the recipient of this grant award," Mayor Bob DaSilva said. "The addition of a community health worker will allow our senior center to provide the additional and much-needed services that our senior population deserves."