2 minute read
Nonprofit in Action: Tri-County Community Action Agency
Tri-County CAA provides testing, fuel amid pandemic
BY CASSIUS SHUMAN | Shuman@PBN.com
Advertisement
THE TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY
has been aiding those in need during the coronavirus pandemic, including hosting COVID-19 testing at its Johnston site and providing fuel oil for the winter months. Under the leadership of CEO and President Joseph DeSantis, the Johnston-based nonprofit acted during the pandemic while using a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation to provide community support in the form of food, rent and utilities assistance.
“Tri-County’s efforts have helped more than 6,000 individuals and families since March 2020,” said DeSantis. “The success of our COVID-19 efforts is primarily due to our experience in assessing and responding to community needs as they change and emerge. Our many years of emergency preparedness training and our experience in deploying staff in times of crisis, as appropriate, has resulted in our ability to pivot and to address new and emerging challenges almost immediately, while maintaining the integrity and quality of our existing programs, services and advocacy efforts.”
The community action agency serves eight towns in northwestern Rhode Island and 10 in Washington County.
Tri-County CAA will be opening another testing site and a respiratory clinic in North Providence on Nov. 1. Funds from the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act are being utilized to maintain primary care, behavioral health and dental services through in-person visits, as well as via telemedicine. The agency is a partner in the WeR1 project, led by Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, which assists undocumented individuals and families impacted by the pandemic.
The Tri-County Health Equity Zone has been established by the R.I. Department of Health to provide COVID-19-related assistance in the towns of North Providence, Johnston and Smithfield.
Homeowners and renters in the towns of Burrillville, Glocester, Johnston, North Providence and Smithfield can apply to Tri-County CAA for heating assistance and weatherization services, as well as other programs, by calling (401) 351-2750. n
HEALTHY DISTRIBUTION: Joseph DeSantis, right, CEO and president of TriCounty Community Action Agency, and Jacquelyn Lorenti, medical assistant, help distribute COVID-19 kits at the agency’s testing site in Johnston, while Medical Director Dr. Wilfredo Giordano-Perez, left, administers a COVID-19 test. The kits distributed by the group include masks, sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer, tissues and health-related educational information.
COURTESY TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY
SUMMIT & AWARDS DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
JOIN PBN FOR OUR DIVERSITY & INCLUSION VIRTUAL SUMMIT & AWARDS EVENT DECEMBER 10 | 9-11AM
PARTNER SPONSOR PANEL DISCUSSION
The dramatic economic disruption resulting from the COVID-19 global pandemic and the unprecedented level of protests linked to racial injustice place greater pressure on companies to use Diversity & Inclusion initiatives to deliver meaningful cultural change and positive business results. A panel of experts will share their personal stories of struggles and successes in implementing successful Diversity & Inclusion programs within their organizations.
TOPICS INCLUDE
• Defining & leveraging Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging in the corporate work environment • Effective workplace conversations on racism vs discrimination • The importance of community engagement in an overall D&I strategy • Opportunities for people with developmental disabilities in the RI workforce
AWARDS RECOGNITION
Applications now being accepted for companies and leaders who have made strides in leveraging Diversity & Inclusion to bring Workplace Excellence to their organizations. • Education • Financial Services • Health Care • Insurance Services • Legal Services • Nonprofit • Social Service Agency • Diversity Champion
