East Bay Community Action Program Receives LGBTQ+ Safe Zone Certification

Pictured (L to R): Scott Gowrie, BCBSRI Safe Zone Program Lead; Amy Lagasse, EBCAP’s Vice President of Behavioral Health; Quinten Foster, Director of EBCAP’s Transgender Whole Healthcare Program; Rilwan K. Feyisitan, Jr., EBCAP’s President and CEO; Sarah Reinstein, EBCAP Manager of Quality Initiatives; Robert Crossley, EBCAP’s Vice President and Chief Health Administrator; Dr. Lisa Denny, EBCAP’s Chief Medical Officer; Annette Richardson, Member of EBCAP’s Board of Directors; Kathryn Amalfitano, EBCAP’s Vice President of Quality and Performance Improvement; and Marisa Calicchia, BCBSRI Provider Relations Team.

Posted Monday, November 6, 2023 12:00 am

(East Providence, RI, November 3, 2023) – East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) is pleased to announce its designation as a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) certified LGBTQ+ Safe Zone organization. This certification recognizes EBCAP’s commitment to delivering safe, inclusive, and affirming care to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Representatives from BSBCRI’s Safe Zone Program presented EBCAP with LGBTQ+ Safe Zone plaques for its East Bay health and behavioral health facilities during ceremonies held on October 31 at EBCAP’s East Providence Headquarters.

“We’re honored to be among more than 100 community organizations and providers to earn this certification,” states Rilwan K. Feyisitan, Jr., EBCAP’s President and CEO. “Prouder still to be the first community action program in the state to become a Blue Cross Safe Zone. As a community leader, it’s essential that anyone coming to us for services knows they will receive respectful, affirming care regardless of their identity,” adds Feyisitan.

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island’s (BCBSRI) mission is to improve members’ health and peace of mind by facilitating their access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. As part of its commitment, BCBSRI aims to increase availability of care to the LGBTQ community, which remains an underserved population with specific healthcare needs. Through the LGBTQ Safe Zone Program, BCBSRI helps members find safe and inclusive places to receive care. For more information, visit https://www.bcbsri.com/providers/safezone-program.

East Bay Community Action Program is a private, non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation that provides a wide array of health and human services to the residents of Rhode Island’s East Bay, including the municipalities of Barrington, Bristol, East Providence, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Warren. For more information about the agency, visit www.ebcap.org.