Health Topics - Community Partnership Award

The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) Community Partnership Award is presented to individuals and/or groups whose contributions to support the mission of HEALTH have been exceptional through community efforts. The award recognizes our partners who have engaged in one or more activities, which are above and beyond the expected and support the department's mission to promote and protect the health and safety of Rhode Islanders.

The Director of Health presents this award (Governor's Citation) at quarterly All Employee Meetings.

October 2007 Community Partnership Awards

Recipient: Tucker Bittel
Contribution: Tucker Bittel served as the data manager of the Rhode Island component of the National Violent Death Reporting System. The National Violent Death Reporting System is a comprehensive public health surveillance system that tracks the circumstances of violent deaths. Ms. Bittel provided recommendations for interventions to prevent violent and untimely deaths. HEALTH thanks her and acknowledges that with her support, this important public health system has been greatly improved.
Media release:
Nominated by: Office of State Medical Examiners

Recipient: Linda Campbell
Contribution: Linda Campbell, Manager of the Warwick Mall, has hosted the Vaccinate Before You Graduate Program’s summer clinics at the Warwick Mall for the past several summers. The goal of the program is to assist the medical community to ensure that all youth are fully immunized against vaccine preventable diseases before they leave school to go on to work or higher education. Ms. Campbell has donated space and staff for the event. She has designed posters and printed tabletop materials at no cost to HEALTH’s Immunization Program. The marquis space is also donated for an entire day and Ms. Campbell provides radio and newsletter advertising. Her generosity has allowed the Immunization Program to provide a fundamental public health service to the youth of Rhode Island.
Media release:
Nominated by: Division of Community Family Health and Equity

July 2007 Community Partnership Awards

Recipient: Rhode Island Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (RIAAP)
Contribution: RIAAP members routinely volunteer their time and expertise to numerous HEALTH committees, advisory boards, and initiatives, including Successful Start, the Child Care Support Network, and KIDSNET. In addition, the RIAAP has been an early and strong advocate for many public health policies, including immunization, health screenings, and obesity prevention.
Media release:
Nominated by: Division of Family Health

Recipient: Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team (RI-1 DMAT)
Contribution: RI-1 DMAT has worked with HEALTH as a trusted partner to implement efficient, effective, and timely responses to medical and public health emergencies. Medical volunteers working for RI-1 DMAT have provided direct medical care in situations when HEALTH has needed additional resources to accomplish its mission. Due to RI-1 DMAT’s support and timely assistance, the provision of critical emergency services to Rhode Islanders has been highly successful.
Media release:
Nominated by: Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response

April 2007 Community Partnership Awards

Recipient: Diane Lemoine
Contribution: Ms. Lemoine acted as a liaison between the Women’s Cancer Screening Program and CVS/pharmacy Corporation to facilitate 16 hospital based breast-screening events. These events increased access to breast cancer screening for low-income, uninsured women.
Media release:
Nominated by: Brenda DiPaolo, Women’s Cancer Screening Program – Division of Community Health and Equity

Recipient: Worksite Wellness Council of RI
Contribution: The Worksite Wellness Council of RI has invested an enormous amount of volunteer time, from a wide variety of private and public organizations, to support the Governor’s Wellness Objective to become the first Well State in the United States.
Media release:
Nominated by: William Waters, Deputy Director

January 2007 Community Partnership Awards

Recipient: Dr. Greigstone Yearwood
Contribution: Dr. Yearwood volunteered his time and his staff to administer free vaccinations to underprivileged residents of Woonsocket's neediest neighborhoods.
Media release:
Nominated by: Heidi Wallace, Immunization Program - Division of Family Health

Recipient: Cranston RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program)
Contribution: RSVP personnel volunteered 1,716 hours of work to prepare and mail 22,770 parcels containing informational and educational materials on behalf of HEALTH.
Media release:
Nominated by: Marilou Freitas- Division of Community Health and Equity