Help is coming for young trauma victims in Woonsocket

Help is coming for families in Woonsocket who have experienced trauma. The Rhode Island Foundation is giving Thundermist HealthCenter $50,000 to tackle the problem.

“Developing an inclusive primary care system that promotes healthy lives is one of our core strategic initiatives. These grants will advance our continuing efforts to make quality health care more accessible and affordable,” said Neil D. Steinberg, the Foundation’s president and CEO.

The grant will enable Thundermist to add a case manager to help patients who have experienced trauma and train behavioral health clinicians to provide trauma-informed care.

According to Kids Count Rhode Island, Woonsocket children are more likely to experience trauma than the average child in Rhode Island. Woonsocket has 4.4 percent of the state's child-age population, but is home to 7 percent of the training school residents, for example.

“A patient’s experience with trauma impacts every area of their life,” said Jeanne LaChance, Thundermist’s president and CEO.

The training will provide the clinicians with an understanding of the vulnerabilities or triggers of trauma survivors, so they can better provide services and programs that can be supportive and avoid re-traumatization.

“Trauma impacts families across generations. We are hopeful that a behavioral health workforce that is more prepared to care for people who have experienced trauma will help to improve the health of our community,” said LaChance.

The grant was among nearly $280,000 in grants awarded by the Foundation. Area residents are also expected to benefit from grants awarded to four other nonprofit organizations: the Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP), Hasbro Children’s Hospital, the Rhode Island Center for Justice and the VNA of Care New England.

The Foundation awarded the grants through a fund created in partnership with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, which announced a $1.6 million contribution for future grant-making.

“I am proud to announce that we are making a final $1.6 million contribution to the Rhode Island Foundation. The contribution caps a long partnership that has generated nearly $2.3 million in grants for health and health care across Rhode Island,” said Karen Voci, president of the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation.

That new funding will enhance the Foundation’s capacity to invest in projects, programs and organizations that support health and healthcare in Rhode Island. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year as part of the Foundation’s general health-related grant-making.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Working with generous and visionary donors, the Foundation raised $114 million and awarded $52 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities in 2018. Through leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit rifoundation.org.