Project Grant CE146601

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - CODAC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (CODAC) IS REQUESTING $747,979.82 IN HRSA-CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING (CDS) FUNDS FOR BUILD OUT RELATED TO THE DESIGN AND RENOVATION OF A 20,198 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING (TOTAL COST: $5.145 MILLION) FOR ITS PROVIDENCE PRIMARY AND COMPREHENSIVE CARE CENTER. THIS ACTION WILL FUND A COMPLETE INTERIOR RENOVATION TO REPURPOSE AN EXISTING PROPERTY AS AN INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL CENTER. THE RENOVATED FACILITY WILL HOUSE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER; MEDICAL CENTER INCLUDING AN OPIOID TREATMENT PROGRAM, PRIMARY CARE; INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND HCV TREATMENT, AND WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICES; PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT CENTER; COLLOCATED SPACE TO FACILITATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH SUPPORTIVE SOCIAL SERVICE OFFICES; AND COMMUNITY MEETING AND EDUCATION SPACES. WHEN OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY, THIS BUILDING, LOCATED AT 45 ROYAL LITTLE DRIVE IN THE CITY'S IMPOVERISHED CHARLES NEIGHBORHOOD, WILL BE A "ONE-STOP" HEALTHCARE HOME FOR THE DELIVERY OF INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PRIMARY CARE SERVICES TO OVER 5,000 LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND FAMILIES LIVING WITHIN A TEN MILE RADIUS OF THE FACILITY. THE PROJECT WILL CONSOLIDATE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PRIMARY CARE SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED IN ANOTHER LOCATION (349 HUNTINGTON AVENUE, PROVIDENCE RI) THAT IS ANTIQUATED AND OVERCROWDED, AND NOT CONDUCIVE TO MEDICAL EXPANSION OR IMPROVEMENTS. IT ALSO LACKS STORM WATER REMEDIATION, HAS LIMITED ADA ACCESS, AND IS NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND TO ACCOMMODATE AN EXPANSION TO ADEQUATELY MEET THE SERVICE NEEDS OF OUR TARGET POPULATION. THE NEW SITE, LOCATED AT 45 ROYAL LITTLE ROAD, PROVIDENCE, RI IS A SHORT DISTANCE (3.9 MILES) FROM THE CURRENT SITE THAT HAS 20,198 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE THAT WILL BE REPURPOSED AND UPGRADED TO BECOME THE NEW CODAC HEADQUARTERS. THE NEW FACILITY WILL IMPROVE PATIENT AND STAFF SAFETY, ENABLE CODAC TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS SEEN, ENHANCE EFFICIENCY, AND IMPROVE CARE EFFECTIVENESS AND HEALTH OUTCOMES BY INCREASING THE N UMBER OF PATIENTS RECEIVING FULLY INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PRIMARY CARE SERVICES. AVAILABLE CLINICAL SPACE WILL INCREASE BY 40% PERCENT, AND WILL INCLUDE 12 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OFFICES AND GROUP TREATMENT, TRAINING AND COMMUNITY SPACE, 10 MEDICAL EXAMINATION ROOMS, AND OFFICES FOR 12 ADMINISTRATION POSITIONS, 4 BROWN UNIVERSITY STAFF AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS, THE RENOVATED FACILITY WILL INCORPORATE BOTH MEDICAL AND ADMINISTRATION AT ONE SITE, ALLOW FOR AN IN-HOUSE PHARMACY, ADDITIONAL EXAMINATION ROOMS AND ALLOW FOR OUR MEDICAL EXPANSION. IN ADDITION, THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WILL PROVIDE IN-HOUSE WORKFORCE READINESS, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING COURSES FOR OUR CLIENTS. RENOVATION OF THIS BUILDING IS THE HIGHEST ORGANIZATIONAL PRIORITY FOR CODAC. THE ONE-STORY BUILDING WILL ADHERE TO GREEN DESIGN PRINCIPLES, MEETING ALL CRITERIA FOR A LEED (LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN) SILVER RATING. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PROJECT IS LOCATED WITHIN A HEALTH EQUITY ZONE, WHERE VULNERABLE RESIDENTS HAVE HEALTH DISPARITIES, AND CODAC DESIRES TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE COMMUNITY-BASED STRATEGIES THAT PROMOTE AND BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENTS. THE NEW FACILITY WILL ENABLE THE AGENCY TO BETTER SERVE ITS TARGET POPULATION, WHICH RESIDE IN THE LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS OF PROVIDENCE AND SURROUNDING TOWNS. THIS POPULATION IS LOW-INCOME AND LARGELY UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED INDIVIDUALS WHO SUFFER FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, AND WOULD LACK ACCESS TO A PERMANENT MEDICAL HOME WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF THIS CODAC FACILITY. THE FACILITY ALSO SERVES SPECIFIC VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, EG., WOMEN AND TEENS IN NEED OF PRENATAL AND PRE/INTERCONCEPTIONAL CARE; FRAIL, ISOLATED ELDERLY; ADOLESCENTS (INCLUDING OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH AGES 16-19; AND PERSONS WITH HIV/AIDS, HCV AND OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE ABUSE/MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.