A crowd of over 100 guests and dignitaries gathered at the Tri-Town Community Action Agency on October 21 to celebrate the completion of a two year project to expand its Health Center.  The Health Center has doubled in size, and now includes
12 exam rooms, six behavioral health offices, and three dental operatories.  Staff
has be added in primary care, mental health, substance abuse and community outreach, enabling the Health Center to increase the number of patients seen from 2,900 to 4,900 over the next three years.  In addition, the new dental service is expected to provide access to over 750 new patients.  Previously, no dental
providers in the area accepted Medicaid or RItecare-insured families.   The Chronic care self management in the areas of pre-diabetes, diabetes, asthma, cardio-
vascular disease, colorectal screening and depression will also be available.

Senator Jack Reed, keynote speaker at the

ribbon cutting was instrumental in securing a

vital $330,000 Congressional appropriation for

the project.  "This is a smart investment of

federal funds, charitable contributions and local help that will help keep Rhode Islanders healthy

and put more people back to work," said Reed. 

(Other speakers praising the new Center  and reinforcing the need for its prevention programs, coordinated care and health care technology to reduce costs were  Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman James Langevin, Lt. Gov Elizabeth Roberts, RI Health Care Association President

Jane Hayward, Johnston  Mayor Joseph Polisena , North Providence Major Charles Lombardi and school superintendents from North Providence

and Smithfield.

Tri-Town received grants totally $1.7 million: $995,000 for the expansion and $730,000 to cover operating expenses.  Other grants came from diverse supporters, including a $265,000 from the Champlin Foundations, $250,000 from the Department of Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA); and $150,000 from the Bureau of Primary Care. HRSA will also provide $650,000 annually for the additional staffing and operating costs associated with the expansion of services.  The Rhode Island Foundation has contributed $80,000 to cover the cost of new evening and Saturday staffing during in the first year. 

"This magnificent support from both public and private sources demonstrates their trust in our ability to deliver high quality, cost-effective services," said Joseph DeSantis, Tri-Town CEO.  "The grants will allow us to provide affordable, accessible care to thousands more infants, children and adults who would otherwise have difficulty accessing care. With expanded facilities, services and hours, patients will

be able to get an appointment without the long waits they have experienced, utilization of emergency rooms for non-emergencies should decrease, and the overall health of low-income residents should improve, "said DeSantis. 

The Health Center stayed open during the renovations, which was not without challenges.  Other services were relocated to enable all medical, behavioral health

and dental services to be together on one floor.