ONE Neighborhood Builders is hosting a Social and Environmental Determinants of Health training, and would love to include other partners! This exciting two-day training will be led by Jeannine Casselman, Legal Advisor from Medical-Legal Partnership Boston (MLPB). The training will consist of a range of topics including: A Social Determinants of Health Overview & Strength-Based Approaches, Housing Instability, Utility Needs, Food & Income Insecurity, Transportation Needs, and Interpersonal Violence.
 
Seats are limited so you're encouraged to RSVP ASAP! 

Did you know that 1 in 3 opioid overdoses in Rhode Island take place in public settings like restaurants, parking lots, sidewalks, and beaches?  In response, the RIDOH Drug Overdose Prevention Program launched a campaign to increase Rhode Islanders' awareness on the use and benefits of lifesaving overdose reversal medicine, naloxone.  

Here are some basic facts and resources about naloxone: 

• Naloxone can be safely administered by lay people.
• Naloxone is available at any Rhode Island pharmacy. With the help from your pharmacist, you can learn how to use naloxone. Rhode Island law allows for the prescribing of naloxone at most pharmacies in Rhode Island. Use this map to find a pharmacy near you.
• All health insurers in Rhode Island cover at least one type of generic naloxone with a no cost/low-cost co-payment. Medicaid fully covers the cost of generic naloxone and Narcan® single-step intranasal spray.

Help us spread the word about this campaign by sharing our Facebook and Instagram messaging with your networks. Leave a positive comment and be a part of the conversation to promote the carrying of naloxone to prevent overdose and save lives.  Naloxone awareness posters can be ordered online by visiting RIDOH's Publications page.  Visit PreventOverdoseRI.org to find naloxone trainings near you.
 

Several HEZs throughout the state have been awarded Preschool Development Grants to deliver services and supports to families of young children.  The participating HEZs will utilize the funds to enhance the knowledge, ability, skills, assets, and resilience of local families to raise healthy children who are ready and able to succeed in school.

In partnership with local organizations, the Central Providence, Washington County, West Warwick, Woonsocket, and Pawtucket Central Falls HEZs will implement or expand the following programs that support family involvement and engagement in children’s development and education and transition into elementary school:  

• Central Providence HEZ, partnering with The Autism Project to implement the trauma-informed, evidence-based Conscious Discipline^© program to help families understand and support children's social-emotional growth and development.
• Central Providence HEZ partnering with Federal Hill House to expand the successful Providence Talks Playgroup Model that strives to increase parent talk, reading, playing, and teaching through modeling and coaching delivered to caregivers during playgroups. 
• Washington County HEZ to expand the Incredible Years Parenting Groups by providing an Incredible Beginnings Teacher Training that will instruct early care and education providers in effective strategies for collaborating with parents to support consistency from home to school.
• Pawtucket Central Falls HEZ, partnering with Children’s Friend to expand the Culturally and Linguistically Responsive project, which strengthens the engagement and involvement of parents of English Learners, and improves the capacity and quality of the classroom learning environments in addressing for the learning needs of English Learners.
• Woonsocket HEZ, partnering with Connecting Children and Families (CCF) to expand the Parents as Teachers program to deliver friendly, informative, and culturally relevant workshops specifically designed for pregnant and parenting teens.
• Woonsocket HEZ, partnering with Woonsocket Head Start to expand the Circle of Security® Parenting intervention to build secure attachment between caregivers and children in families within the Woonsocket community.
• Woonsocket Health Equity Zone, partnering with The Autism Project to pilot the Conscious Discipline© program in preschool classrooms and support professional development for staff.
• West Warwick Health Equity Zone, partnering with Westbay Community Action to expand Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services, promote early literacy efforts at the West Warwick library, and offer social service support through United Way 2-1-1.

AS220 Youth's Futureworlds production: Escape from Jollyworld is a hip hop theatre production written and presented by the young artists of AS220. Escape from JollyWorld tells the story of a rapper struggling with addiction, Jay, who finds himself emerged in JollyWorld; a hyper animated dimension where even the most common folk can reach other worldly potential. The rapper is signed to a record label that makes its profits by taking endorsements from Big Tobacco and Pharmaceutical companies. On his journey, he meets two elder musicians who help him understand the roots of his addiction and more importantly, those who are benefiting from it. As he learns more about his past and the institutions that have controlled it, JollyWorld begins to collapse. How will Jay confront his addiction? Will he make it out of JollyWorld alive?

The goal of Futureworlds 5 is to examine how and why communities of color have been disproportionately criminalized for addiction, a disease that is now gaining growing compassion and policy reform. At the same time, the aim is to educate young people about the dangers of abusing drugs, with a special focus on opioids and nicotine.

In an effort to normalize breastfeeding and draw attention to the importance of supporting this health initiative, the Rhode Island Breastfeeding Coalition is hosting its 7th annual statewide celebration of families "Born to Breastfeed." Children 5 and under are granted FREE admission. Tickets for older children and adults are only $5.  

Last year families from all over Rhode Island and New England joined for a fun night of breastfeeding under the stars. Over 70 businesses and community resources hosted exhibit tables and over 2,000 attendees enjoyed the zoo, music, dancing, and food. This is a family friendly and outdoor event.  

Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week at the 5th Annual Big Latch On!
 
The objective is to gather as many nursing moms (pumping included) as possible to do 'the big latch on' at 10:30 a.m., hopefully breaking last year's record. Attendees are asked to register beforehand and arrive at least 15 mins before countdown. Anyone is invited to enjoy free light refreshments, children’s activities, raffles, and vendors. There will be giveaways for those who participate.

The Woonsocket Prevention Coalition (WPC) will be offering free naloxone administration trainings; no registration is required. Participants will learn how to recognize and respond to an overdose and will receive a free naloxone kit. Questions? Contact the WPC at 401-301-2894.