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What We Do
Our priorities and areas of focus are determined by direct feedback from the community through continuous needs assessment
Food Access
Mission:
End Hunger in West Warwick. Establish and maintain healthy food access points in each ward with a focus on residents who are vulnerable and experiencing health issues.
WWHEZ Food Access Workgroup has established, maintained, & expanded food access points since 2020 that will be sustained in perpetuity, including but not limited to:
• A new food pantry for families at Child, Inc.
• Expansion of Westbay CAP’s Can of Peas program
• Expansion of the Thundermist patient & staff centered Food Cabinet
• Providing ready to eat bags of food to our unhoused neighbors during the farmers market and during the weekly Shower 2 Empower event
• Creation of the WIC & PICK program at Westbay Farm
West Warwick Farmer's Market
We successfully moved locations for the WW Farmer’s Market back to the Community Garden at 186 Providence Street and increased sales in 2023. We provided 2 different coupons for free fresh produce for customers and established a monthly Winter Farmers Market with a coupon for free fresh veggies for customers. We also offer a monthly Pop-Up Farmers Markets for Seniors, and special events like the Strawberry Festival, Pride at the Garden, the Tomato Festival & the Garlic Festival.
Thundermist Grows! Community Garden
Located at 186 Providence Street, we continue to expand the Community Garden which is now home to the Farmers Market with funds from the West Warwick HEZ Ambassadors. We work with volunteer groups like the Providence Gay Flag Football League to maintain & expand the Garden each year. The garden is at capacity and provides land access for growing food for 20 gardeners. We donate our extra harvest to patients at Thundermist Health Center & visitors to the Garden.
West Warwick Community Orchard
Located at 100 Factory Street, we continue to expand the West Warwick Community Orchard with funding through the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District and generous support from the Town of West Warwick. Currently the Orchard produces, blueberries, strawberries, elderberries, wild cherries & pears on a first come, first served pick your own basis. We work with volunteer groups like the West Warwick Wizards Football Team to maintain & expand the Orchard each year.
Overdose Prevention and Recovery
This workgroup has four main goals:
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Primary Prevention: Move upstream to change the culture, increase awareness, and reduce stigma
Harm Reduction & Rescue: People have Naloxone and bystanders know how and when to use it to save lives
Treatment: When people are ready for treatment, medically assisted treatment is available immediately and locally in West Warwick
Recovery: Build capacity locally to deliver recovery support services to individuals and families
ODPR Workgroup Activities
Building Recovery Community
Recovery Karaoke is sponsored by the WWHEZ Community Ambassadors who have identified the following as barriers to health and wellness experienced by the people of West Warwick: emerging issues related to trauma such as substance use disorder, generational trauma, behavioral health challenges, poverty and discrimination. Recovery Karaoke provides a safe, welcoming environment for residents of West Warwick that addresses each of these identified priority needs. Recovery Karaoke will be held at our WWHEZ Hub location on Main street in West Warwick every first Saturday of the month from 6-10pm.
Collaborating with our Partners
In fall of 2023 WWHEZ and community partner PSN forged a collaboration to bring supportive services directly to vulnerable residents in WW by creating a program to operate out of the West Warwick HEZ Hub on Main Street. PSN is a leading partner in WWHEZ and participates most actively in the ODPR and Healthy Neighborhoods workgroups. PSN contributes to the overall HEZ and workgroup goals by supporting residents through a wide array of services and programs aimed at education, and advocacy to prevent abuse and neglect, reduce disparities, and progress towards universal health, wellness, and recovery. Parent Support Network and West Warwick Health Equity Zone partnered in the delivery of a community “Open House” program for individuals who struggle with substance use and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, of which many are currently experiencing homelessness and struggling to find shelter and recovery. This program serves on average 20-25 participants per day providing food, CPRS services, housing navigation (CES/HMIS), assisting folks in getting vital documents, connecting residents to much needed assistance and resources including connection to substance use treatment and harm reduction supplies as well as scheduled programming consisting of activities including but not limited to:
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Wellness Art projects
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Mind Clarity Journaling
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Healthfulness Book group
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Recovery Dharma group
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Mindful Meditation Circle
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Mobile Wound Care
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Music Reflections Group
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Life Skills
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Individual Case Management
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Beginners Tai Chi
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HIV/HEP-C Testing
Healthy Neighborhoods
In 2018, West Warwick residents asked WWHEZ to identify housing as a priority social determinant of health concern. At this time residents, local leaders, partner organizations and HEZ backbone staff came together to form the Healthy Neighborhoods workgroup. The Healthy Neighborhoods workgroup initiative functions as a cross sector collective impact partnership working to:
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Develop a pipeline of affordable/supportive housing for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness and/or unstably housed.
2
Increase access to healthcare, behavioral healthcare, and housing stability and retention services for individuals and families living in West Warwick who are unsheltered/experiencing homelessness/housing insecurity.
3
Build community capital to ensure resources are available in West Warwick and expand the Trauma Informed and Recovery Oriented philosophy of home, health, community, and purpose.
Permanent Supportive Housing Focus
In March of 2022 WWHEZ forged a partnership with Women’s Development Corporation (WDC) to explore permanent supportive housing options in West Warwick. WDC believes that safe, sustainable housing is the foundation that enables low-income individuals and families to become economically stable. WWHEZ and WDC have collaborated on the 183 Washington Street development that would bring 30 units of PSH to West Warwick.
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is a housing model designed to provide long-term housing solutions combined with supportive services for individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness as well as behavioral health challenges. PSH reduces the use of emergency services, hospitalizations, and incarcerations, which are often more costly than providing stable housing and supportive services. Studies have shown that PSH can lead to significant savings for public systems, including healthcare, criminal justice, and emergency shelter systems. Numerous studies and real-world implementations of PSH have demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing homelessness and improving outcomes for residents. Research indicates that individuals in PSH are more likely to remain housed, achieve better health outcomes, and have improved life satisfaction compared to those without stable housing.
Image courtesy of WDC https://www.wdchoc.org/183-washington-street