Chronic Condition Self-Management Programs

Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program

• A community-based, recreational exercise program of gentle, joint-safe exercises developed to help people with arthritis relieve stiffness, decrease arthritis pain and improve balance. The low-impact exercises can be done while sitting, standing or on the floor. Led by certified instructors.
• Format: Group sessions meet at various locations throughout the state and run twice a week for one hour for 6 weeks.
• Eligibility: Adults (18+ years old) with arthritis.
• Cost: Varies by site offering program
• Contact: Rebecca Farnloff, (401) 739-3773

Arthritis Foundation Walk With Ease Program

• A program to help people with arthritis better manage their pain and for people without arthritis who want to make walking a regular habit. Led by a certified leader, this program has been shown to reduce pain and increase balance and walking pace.
• Format: Meets 3 times per week for 6 weeks, at various locations throughout the state
• Eligibility: Appropriate for anyone who can be on their feet for 10 minutes without increased pain
• Cost: Varies and usually includes the cost of a book
• Contact: Rebecca Farnloff, (401) 739-3773

Certified Cardiovascular Disease Outpatient Educator (CVDOE) Program

• This program teaches people to manage their blood pressure and cholesterol, how to properly use medication, and the basics of a healthy diet.
• Format: Individual or group sessions led by trained registered nurses, dietitians and pharmacists in doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and CVDOE practice sites, around the state.
• Eligibility: Adults (18+ years old) with cardiovascular disease
• Cost: Covered by some health insurance plans. May require a co-pay.
• Contact: Deborah Newell (401) 222-4421

Certified Diabetes Outpatient Educator (CDOE)

• This program teaches people with diabetes how to manage their glucose and cholesteral levels, blood pressure, medication, and nutrition.
• Format: Individual or group consultations led by trained registered nurses, dietitians and pharmacists, in doctors’ offices, pharmacies, CDOE practice sites, around the state.
• Eligibility: Adults (18+ years old) with diabetes referred by their healthcare provider
• Cost: Covered under some health insurance plans. May require a co-pay
• Contact: Deborah Newell (401) 222-4421

Chronic Disease Self- Management (Living Well Rhode Island)

• This workshop teaches people ways to manage symptoms and medications, communicate with family and doctors, handle difficult emotions, relax, eat well, exercise, and set goals to improve health and lifestyles.
• Format: Groups sessions 2 ½ hours per week for 6 weeks facilitated by certified Peer Leaders. (Offered in Spanish as "Tomando Control de Su Salud").
• Eligibility: Adults (18+ years old) who have, or care for someone with, a chronic condition (for example: asthma, arthritiis, cancer, COPD, diabetes, or heart disease)
• Cost: Free.
• Contact: Darren Kaw (401) 222-7622

Diabetes Self-Management (Living Well Rhode Island)

• This workshop teaches techniques to deal with symptoms of diabetes, fatigue, pain, stress, depression and anger. It promotes exercise, proper use of medications, healthy eating, and effective communication techniques.
• Format: Groups sessions 2 ½ hours per week for 6 weeks facilitated by certified peer leaders. (Offered in Spanish as "Tomando Control de Su Diabetes")
• Eligibility: Adults (18+ years old) who have, or care for someone with, diabetes
• Cost: Free
• Contact Person: Virginia Paine (401) 222-3667

Draw a Breath Asthma Program

• This unique learning environment provides families that have a child with asthma with the knowledge, skills, and tools to effectively manage asthma, to reduce emergency room and overnight hospital stays for asthma.
• Format: The group-based approach creates a in which both children and caregivers learn from, and are motivated by, each other.
• Eligibility: Families with a child with asthma are eligible to take part in the program.
• Cost: Program services all families, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.
• Contact: Miosotis Alsina (401) 444-3092.

Health Smart Behaviors (YMCA)

• This program teaches families about healthy food choices and how to make small goals related to healthy lifestyle changes.
• Format: This is an eight week program.
• Eligibility: African Americans and Latinos
• Cost: Free
• Contact: Dulli Haag, (401) 265-4180

Healthy Lifestyles for Youth with Disabilities

• Helps teens and young adults with special healthceare needs explore healthy life choices, and develop a personal action plan.
• Format: A 16-hour interactive curriculum led by certified youth health coaches and adult mentors, in a three full-day or 2 ½ hour series over six to eight daytime sessions. A minimum of 10 participants is needed. Groups benefit when peers, mentors, teachers, and others participate to provide more support. Sessions are held at handicapped accessible sites
• Eligibility: Transition-age youth (14-24) with special healthcare needs, disabilities, or who are at-risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional condition and need help.
• Cost: Free. Snacks are provided.
• Contact: Deb Golding, (401) 222-5954

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA

• This program helps adult cancer survivors reclaim their health through improved muscle strength, cardiovascular endurance and functional ability.
• Format: Supervised physical activity twice per week for 12 weeks in small groups at all branches within the Greater Providence YMCA network.
• Eligibility: People who have had a cancer diagnosis
• Cost: Free and includes a YMCA membership.
• Contact: Judy Cerrito, (401) 828-0130 ext. 210

Living Well Rhode Island, Chronic Pain Self-Management Workshop

• This workshop teaches people to manage chronic pain, explains how pain medications work, how to communicate with family and doctors about pain, and debunks myths about chronic pain.
• Format: Groups sessions 2 ½ hours per week for 6 weeks led by certified peer leaders.
• Eligibility: Adults (18+ years old) who have chronic pain.
• Cost: Free.
• Contact: Darren Kaw, (401) 222-7622

Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls

• Helps older adults reduce fears of falling and increase activity levels.
• Format: Eight 2 hour group workshops for a small group led by a trained facilitator.
• Eligibility: Senior adults (60 + years old) who are ambulatory and able to problem solve.
• Cost: Free
• Contact: Jennifer Andrade Koziol, (401) 222-4964

The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Rhode Island (NAMI)

• Inside Mental Illness, the Peer-to-Peer education program about mental illness for junior high and high school students.
• Format: Group and individual family-to-family education courses.
• Eligibility: Teens with mental illness and their family caregivers.
• Cost: Free
• Contact: (401) 331-3060

Peer Resource Specialists

• Resource Specialists/Peer Navigators are trained to help people navigate healthcare systems, coordinate care, and become better advocates for families. They help with access to basic needs that often interfere with health and wellness (housing, transportation, employment, etc)
• Format: Resource services are offered at participating doctor’s offices, in the home, hospitals, and community agencies.
• Eligibility: People who could benefit from peer support and system navigation to achieve better health outcomes.
• Cost: Free
• Contact: Laura Jones, (401) 270-0101

Rhode Island Smoker’s Helpline

• The Rhode Island Smokers’ Helpline is the state's Quitline, an evidence-based service that provides quit tips, self-help materials, and referral to other quit smoking services in the state.
• Format: Multi-session telephone counseling
• Eligibility: Rhode Island residents
• Cost: Free
• Contact: 800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or Dana McCants Derisier (401) 222-7625

QuitWorks-RI

• The QuitWorks-RI Program provides tobacco cessation educational training for physicians and other healthcare providers, training and support on use of fax-referral system to the Smokers’ Helpline for patients who desire to quit smoking, and follow-up report on patient progress with Program.
• Format: Healthcare provider referral to RI Smoker’s Helpline
• Eligibility: Rhode Island residents
• Cost: Free
• Contact: 1-800-QUIT-NOW or (800) 784-8669

Salsa, Sabor Y Salud (YMCA

• Spanish language program that teaches families about the benefits of physical activity and healthy eating to make small, sustainable lifestyle changes.
• Format: This is an eight week program
• Eligibility: Spanish speaking families
• Cost: Free
• Contact: Dulli Haag (401) 265-4180

YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program

• This program teaches people how to lower their risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes by eating healthier, increasing physical activity and losing weight.
• Format: Group sessions are held once a week for 16 weeks
• Eligibility: Adults (18+ years old) with pre-diabetes or people at-risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes.
• Cost: Members $149; Non-Member $199, Includes YMCA membership for the 16 week period. Financial assistance is available
• Contact: Neta Taylor-Post, (401) 427-1825

YMCA’s Healthy Lifestyles Behavior Change Program

• Helps people successfully make lifestyle changes to improve their health and well-being by exploring ways to overcome barriers, stay motivated and build support networks.
• Format: 22-session group program. Held once a week for the first 4 sessions, and then bi-weekly for the remaining 18 sessions. Can be held at a Y or within the community.
• Eligibility: Adults (18+ years old) who are ready to make behavior changes
• Cost: Member $149; Non-Member $199, Includes YMCA membership for duration of the program. Financial Assistance is available.
• Contact: Neta Taylor-Post, (401) 427-1825