CENTRAL FALLS – In the state’s smallest city, the most recognizable logo is a cartoon emblem of a smiling ladybug wearing a stethoscope and carrying a doctor’s bag, emblazoned on a bright red jersey. It is the logo of Jenks Parks Pediatrics, Dr. Beata Nelken’s health enterprise, which she opened in February of 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was breaking out.

Young children, more so than parents, immediately recognize the logo, point to it and smile, whenever ConvergenceRI wears his red pullover – in grocery stores, in pharmacies, and on the streets of Central Falls, Pawtucket and Providence.

Where once “Paws,” the trademark of the now departed Pawtucket Red Sox, had ruled the symbolic highway, now it is the Jenks Park ladybug that marks the turf of the city, the home of “diversity that inspires.”

Translated, Jenks Park Pediatrics has emerged as the community’s health home for Central Falls families.

And now, thanks to major investments by the Papitto Opportunity Connection, Rhode Island Housing, and the City of Central Falls, the ladybug logo promises to grow in popularity.

On Friday morning, April 12, there was a news conference announcing a new, 30-unit housing complex that will serve as a home for women and children in Central Falls at risk of homelessness. Housing, health care, job training, and wrap-around services will be joined at the hip in what is known as the Jenks Park Residence, the first of its kind in Rhode Island.

Jenks Park Pediatrics has been able to build out its infrastructure, accomplishing in three years what would normally take a decade, according to Dr. Nelken, thanks to the investments by the Papitto Opportunity Connection. By the end of 2024, POC will have invested more than $2 million in the Central Falls Children’s Foundation to improve health outcomes and the lives of women and children in Central Falls.

Four women lead the way    
The four women credited with the leadership to create the Jenks Park Residence in Central Falls were: Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera; Jenks Park Pediatrics founder, president and CEO, Dr. Beata Nelken; Carol Ventura of Rhode Island Housing, and Barbara  Papitto, the founder of the Papitto Opportunity Connection.

Perhaps the key number to remember is 1,000 – that is how many children have been signed up to receive health insurance through Medicaid under the state program, “Cover All Kids.” Thanks to the investment by the Papitto Opportunity Connection, Central Falls gained herd immunity from COVID-19 after having one of the highest positivity rates in the country, according to Mayor Rivera. Additionally, targeted POC investments in Central Falls spearheaded the enrollment of more than 1,000 children in the state’s RIte Care program, which provides children with free access to medical care.

Changing the lives of women and children in real time  
While many in Rhode Island have talked about how housing is health care, the efforts of the four women leaders have translated that sentiment into a working reality – changing the lives of women and children in real time.

In the news release put out by Mayor Maria Rivera, the details of the innovative Jenks Park Residence were provided: “Jenks Park Residence is a a unique transitional housing program that provides workforce development and educational opportunities, along with medical and mental health care. The 30-unit affordable living space was funded by a $1 million site acquisition investment from RI Housing.”

It will specifically support mothers and children who are at risk of homelessness, providing them a rent-stabilized, fully furnished apartment with all utilities included for two years, according to the news release. This is the first primary-care medical clinic in Rhode Island to address housing in the community it serves by offering access to transitional housing and wrap around medical services onsite.

 “The 10,000-sq-foot space features a community kitchen with daily evening meals, a library, play areas for kids, and a computer lab for workforce development,” the news release continued. “Residents will be able to access women’s health care, mental health services, and pediatric medical services. In addition, the Papitto Opportunity Connection is funding wrap around services focused on job training, educational opportunities, immigration and legal assistance, and more.”

“As one of the densest cities in America, Central Falls has been devastated by the wake of the pandemic – from our growing housing crisis to a surge in 9-1-1 calls for domestic violence help,” Mayor Rivera said. “I've seen firsthand the dire need women and children in our city have for safe, stable, supportive housing, and I couldn't be prouder of this historic moment and partnership with Dr. Nelken to bring this groundbreaking housing project to life. I know Jenks Park Residence is going to save and change lives.”

“Our goal is to give women and children a safe space, where they can receive the support and resources they need to take care of themselves and their families,” said Dr. Nelken, founder of Central Falls Children’s Foundation and Jenks Park Pediatrics, who will oversee the project. “Providing access to stable housing with quality medical care, and the social services these at-risk populations need, is crucial to the long-term well-being of these families and will create systemic change.”

The news release continued: “Located across the street from Central Falls City Hall, Jenks Park Residence on Broad Street will re-purpose a former assisted living facility. The 10,000-sq-foot space features a community kitchen with daily evening meals, a library, play areas for kids, and a computer lab for workforce development. Residents will be able to access women’s health care, mental health services, and pediatric medical services. In addition, the Papitto Opportunity Connection is funding wrap around services focused on job training, educational opportunities, immigration and legal assistance.”

“Mayor Rivera and Dr. Nelken saw a pressing need for women and children in Central Falls and moved quickly to address it,” said Barbara Papitto, founder of the Papitto Opportunity Connection. “Their efforts are inspiring and emblematic of the kinds of programs Papitto Opportunity Connection is dedicated to investing in. I am thrilled that we can help make their vision a reality.”

Budget indiscretion?   
It comes at a time when the threat of Rhode Islanders facing homeless is growing, in large part due the failure of the R.I. Department of Housing to replace some $30 million in funding for shelter resources in the state.

In Rhode Island, there are an estimated 1,800 people experiencing homelessness, and according to RI Kids Count, Central Falls had a reported 70 children homeless in the 2021-2022 school year, with more than 10 percent living in extreme poverty.

Here is the way that Benedict F. Lessing, Jr, MSW, President and CEO of Community Care Alliance, summed up the situation during a hearing held by the House Finance Committee last week.

“Recently, I testified at the House Finance Committee in support of the Dept of Housing's budget,” Lessing wrote to ConvergenceRI. “What we were not aware of until the Secretary [Stefan Pryor’s] testimony was that in lieu of the elimination of ARPA funds, there is no plan to replace this hole of approximately $30 million.”

What this means in stark terms, Lessing continued, “is that shelter services would be reduced by 80 percent across Rhode Island. This, in my opinion would be catastrophic, as we currently do not have sufficient shelter resources.”

In Woonsocket alone, Lessing wrote, “We currently have 50+ people sleeping outside on a nightly basis. This includes people with severe opioid concerns, the elderly, pregnant women as well as people with serious mental illness. In addition, as DCYF transfers the families it has sheltered in motels to current shelters funded by the Dept. of Housing, we are going to see more children and families on the street.”

Lessing issued a clear wake-up call to legislators: “It is important that lawmakers absorb the totality of this situation in that if this budget shortfall occurs, there will be a significant impact on hospital emergency departments, behavioral health services, child welfare, public safety and corrections.”

Translated, Lessing emphasized, “The state will be spending money one way or another. While we all know the solution is more and affordable housing for multiple populations of the unhoused, not to respond will be putting the safety and well-being of hundreds of people at risk. It is important to pay attention to basic facts and see this as the structural problem that it is.”

Another budgeting problem looms  
The General Assembly is also grappling with competing plans around how much to increase Medicaid rates for providers, particularly for behavior health care services. In particular, opioid treatment programs, which are considered the only truly evidence-based modality for the prevention of opioid overdose, are at risk, according to Linda Hurley, the leader of CODAC.

Hurley said that opioid treatment programs have not received an increase in Medicaid rates for as long as 15-20 years, and that the recommended increase being requested for FY 2025 is 62.4 percent.

Without the investments in Medicaid rates for providers of behavioral health services, and without additional investments in community agencies providing services to those Rhode Islanders at risk of homelessness, the ability of Rhode Island community agencies to provide services will be severely impacted.