City of East Providence seeks to fill new Veterans Services/Community Health Coordinator position

East Providence, RI – The City of East Providence is seeking to fill a new role within the city that will address a growing epidemic throughout the nation – substance misuse.

The City is seeking to fill a Veterans Services/Community Health Coordinator position. Under the supervision of the Office of the Mayor, the Veterans’ Services and Community Health Coordinator position, will provide services related to the support of Veterans of the United States Armed Services and services related to alcohol and drug addiction. In these capacities, the Veterans’ Services and Community Health Coordinator provides program development, project management, and fiscal oversight of settlement funds, and engages with members of the public to provide support and assistance. The position will be funded by the National Opioid Settlement.

In 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the general U.S. population had 106,699 overdose deaths, which is about a 14 percent increase in deaths from the previous year. Of those 2021 deaths, 80,411 of them were related to opioids.

In a report published by The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety in 2021, researchers claimed that veterans were “twice as likely” to die from an accidental opioid overdose compared to the general population.

In 2023, there have been 267 accidental drug overdose deaths which include both opioid involved and non-opioid involved fatalities, according to the Rhode Island Dept. of Health.

“Too many people have lost their lives as the result of the opioid epidemic,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “With this new position, the City is better positioned to collaborate with medical personnel, first responders, mental health and substance use treatment providers as well as community-based organizations to provide targeted services, resources and expertise to the community in an effort to address this epidemic.

“Our administration is committed to coordinate efforts to provide our Veterans with the services they need while also working to prevent opioid overdoses and death,” DaSilva added.

To APPLY, please visit: https://eastprovidenceri.gov/jobs/23-12-07/veterans-servicescommunity-health-coordinator 

For more info. about the settlement, please visit: https://eastprovidenceri.gov/files-docs/22-01-25/press-release-attorney-general-neronha-state-and-municipal-leaders-announce