Conference to Examine Public Health, Social Work and Community Partnerships

PROVIDENCE, RI – Nicole Alexander-Scott, M.D., M.P.H., director of the R.I. Department of Health, will serve as keynote speaker at the 2015 Promising Practices Multicultural Conference, “The Power of Community Partnerships: Advancing Public Health & Human Rights through Education and Service,” held from 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Rhode Island College’s Donovan Dining Center, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Providence. General admission is $20 (student admission $15). Online registration is available at www.ric.edu/promisingpractices<http://www.ric.edu/promisingpractices>/.

The 2015 Promising Practices Multicultural Conference is presented by the Rhode Island College Dialogue on Diversity Committee and is co-chaired by RIC Assistant Professor of Social Work Stefan Battle and RIC Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education Carol Cummings.

Cummings stated that the conference is ideal for public health professionals, social workers, nurses, counselors, faculty, teachers and students. She said, “Together we can champion the health and well-being of all people and all communities.”

In her talk, Dr. Alexander-Scott will focus on the state’s strategic priorities for improving health and human rights outcomes, including social and environmental determinants of health, health disparities and access to health services.

“Health begins where we live, learn, work and play,” said Dr. Alexander-Scott. “It begins with the services available in our neighborhoods, the quality of our housing, the safety of our communities and the food we have access to and eat. For this reason, the Department of Health aims to affect change at the neighborhood and community levels. It is one of the Department of Health’s leading priorities to eliminate health disparities and promote health equity. This means that everyone has the chance to achieve their full health potential, regardless of their zip code.”

The conference program will also feature a panel discussion on public health and social work partnerships. Panelists will include:

* Professor of Social Work Dr. Jayashree Nimmagadda, Rhode Island College.
* Zero: 2016 Coordinator Maria Cimini, Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless.
* Executive Director Ana Novais, Division of Community, Family and Equity at the R.I. Department of Health.
* Adjunct Assistant Professor of Family Medicine Dr. Dannie Ritchie, Brown University.

Conference attendees will have the opportunity to choose two of 28 different workshops that showcase innovative efforts to build health literacy and address human rights disparities. Titles include: “Advancing Health at the City Level,” “Youth Action for All Abilities” and “Reducing the Stigma and Increasing Support: Pregnant Women, Substance Abuse and Newborns.”

“Carol and I are extremely excited about the array of workshop titles and presenters for this year’s Promising Practice conference,” said Battle. In addition to RIC faculty, workshop presenters include representatives from the African Alliance of Rhode Island; Boston College/National Resource Center of Participant-Directed Services; Bridgewater State University; City of Providence/Healthy Communities Office; Crossroads Rhode Island; Healthcentric Advisors; Lifespan; Providence Children and Youth Cabinet; Providence Community Acupuncture; Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals; Rhode Island Department of Health/Office of Special Needs; Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College; Rhode Island Parent Information Network; Roger Williams University; South Kingstown Partnership for Prevention; Special Olympics Rhode Island; Vantage Point; Wellness Workdays; Wheelock College School of Social Work; and Women & Infants’ Hospital.

Conference co-sponsors include the National Association of Social Workers – Rhode Island Chapter; the RIC Feinstein School of Education and Human Development; the RIC School of Nursing; the RIC School of Social Work in conjunction with the Child Welfare Institute; the Rhode Island Department of Health; and the Rhode Island Public Health Association. The conference is supported by the RIC Committee on College Lectures.

Established in 1854, Rhode Island College serves approximately 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students through its five schools: the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, the School of Social Work, the School of Management and the School of Nursing. For more information, visit www.ric.edu<http://www.ric.edu/>.Established in Providence in 1854, Rhode Island College serves approximately 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students through its five schools: the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, the School of Social Work, the School of Management and the School of Nursing. For more information, visit www.ric.edu<http://www.ric.edu/>.

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