Rhode Island Department of Health Creates Creative Avenues to Combat Health Issues in Local Communities
The Health Zone Equities Initiative encourages its residents to follow CDC guidelines and regulations on ways to keep their families safe and healthy.
Back in 2015, the Rhode Island Department of Health created the Health Equity Zone to develop programs in areas of the state where there’s high rates of obesity, chronic illnesses and other health issues. The program awards grants in local governments and nonprofits to reduce health disparities and improve public health in Rhode Island. Even with all the good it’s doing for the community, due to the pandemic, the Health Equity Zone had to find creative avenues to reach the Rhode Island citizens to figure out the best way to help them through this difficult time.
As a result, the Health Equity Zone created programs, apps and resources to help stop the spread of the virus while keeping the community safe and healthy.
One of those programs is The Crush COVID App , which is another tool to help end COVID.
Through the app, individuals can track the virus and can stay informed on the latest news of the pandemic. They can also use it to check their symptoms, locate test sites, find resources for more information on the virus and maintain a location diary to help contact tracing.
“The more people who download and use the app, the greater the state’s success in protecting the citizens’ health,” said Rhode Island Health Department Communication Specialist Colby Zongol.
The Health Equity Zone initiative was built for Rhode Island’s Department of Health to find ways to fund the community through a collaborative approach. Their goal is to improve the population’s health outcomes while financing interventions. The state has made it a priority to listen to the community’s voices and has created a program with the people’s mental and physical health in mind.
Another way that the Health Department is trying to reach out to the community is through interviews and segments on social media. Chief of Special Projects Christopher Ausura said the Health Department strives to promote health equity through videos and resources for everyone to use. The department’s Lunch Break with Dr. McDonald, delivers information and tips with guests to answer questions that the community have asked.
Rhode Island’s Health Department outlines healthy advantages on keeping communities safe and healthy.
According to Ausura, health is more than just healthcare.
“80% of health happens in our homes, schools, jobs, and communities. That’s why the Health Equity Zones are so important in our communities,” said Ausura. “It is the reason why our health plans focus on socioeconomic and environmental determinants in the state and ensure access to quality health services, especially to our more vulnerable residents.”
The Health Department is looking towards the future, beyond the pandemic to help Rhode Island’s population. The department is exploring how to sustain their work and how to expand their work moving forward. The department also wants to support evaluation efforts to document policy advocacy changes and develop return-on-investment impact reports.
For more information on Rhode Island’s Health Department’s programs and initiatives, click here.
Watch a full episode of Lunch Break with Dr. McDonald below: