Social Services
Single-payer is better for businesses, says one expert
By Will Weatherly on August 7, 2018
Dr. James Cowan has seen how health insurance works from multiple angles and both sides of the pond, consulting for the National Health Service, the United Kingdom’s public health-care system, to serving as an expert for the health-care insurer Aetna here in the United States. Now acting as an advisor for the Rhode Island Health […]
Posted in Economics, Featured, Health Care, National News, News, Social Services | Tagged American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, health care, James Cowan, Labor, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare for All, National Health Service, Rhode Island Health Care Access and Affordability Partnership, single payer | 3 Responses
Medicare for All would save RI money—and here’s the math
By Will Weatherly on August 2, 2018
Would health care in Rhode Island cost less if everyone had access to it? The question, brought to the national stage in arguments surrounding Sen. Bernie Sanders’s Medicare for All plan, came to Rhode Island repeatedly this week, whether it was when Democratic gubernatorial candidate Matt Brown announced his own Medicare for All plan, or in […]
Posted in Featured, Health Care, Inequality, Labor, News, Social Services | Tagged Affordable Care Act, Bernie Sanders, Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI, Gina Raimondo, health care, Matt Brown, Mercatus Center, Physicians for a National Health Program, single payer, Ted Nesi | 1 Response
Trump’s tax plan to benefit wealthiest Rhode Islanders, many face tax increase
By Steve Ahlquist on October 12, 2017
The wealthiest Rhode Islanders would receive the greatest benefit from President Donald Trump’s proposed tax cut plan, while nearly 1 in 5 Rhode Islanders would see their taxes increase by over $1,800.
Posted in Economics, Featured, National News, Rhode Island, Social Services, Taxes | Tagged donald trump, Economic Progress Institute, gop, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, itep, Rachel Flum, Republicans | Leave a response
Sarita Gupta and Jobs With Justice announce Rhodycare campaign
By Steve Ahlquist on September 14, 2017
Under Rhodycare, “all Rhode Islanders pay into the system through a paycheck deduction and when it comes time to pay for childcare or eldercare you access your pooled contribution.”
Posted in Featured, Health Care, Infrastructure, Labor, News, Rhode Island, Social Services, Video, Women, Youth | Tagged Ai-jen Poo, Caring Across Generations, jobs with justice, Mike Araujo, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Rhode Island Jobs with Justice, Rhodycare, Sarita Gupta | Leave a response
Trump tax cuts a massive giveaway to the richest one percent of Rhode Islanders says report
By Steve Ahlquist on July 20, 2017
In Rhode Island, the top 1 percent of the state’s residents would receive an average tax cut of $86,610 compared with an average tax cut of just $430 for the bottom 60 percent of taxpayers in the state.
Posted in Class Warfare, Congress, Economics, Featured, National News, News, Poverty, Race & Racism, Rhode Island, Social Services, Taxes | Tagged donald trump, Economic Progress Institute, EPI, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, itep, Medicaid, Medicare, Rachel Flum | Leave a response
Trumpcare protest outside Governor Conference during VP Pence visit to RI
By Steve Ahlquist on July 15, 2017
“The GOP has made only cosmetic changes to their Trumpcare bill that do nothing to alter the bill’s fundamental problems. Make no mistake: this bill and the bill already passed by the House will have a devastating impact on people’s lives.”
Posted in Activism, Civil Rights, Class Warfare, Corporate Greed, Disability Services, Events, Featured, Health Care, Inequality, Labor, National News, News, Photos, Poverty, Providence, Rhode Island, Social Services, State House, Video, Women, Youth | Tagged Affordable Care Act, ARC of Blackstone Valley, Boston Center for Independent Living, Burnside Park, Cheryl Frasier, Colleen Flanagan, Donald Anderson, Foster Forward, gop, Indivisible Rhode Island, Jim Cowan, Joharlen Carvajal, Jordan Hevenor, Kamila Barzykowski, Karen Malcolm, Marjory Waters, Mass ADAPT, Medicare for All, Michael Pence, Monica Scott, National Governor Association, National Governors Association, NGA, Protect Our Healthcare Coalition, republican, Rhode Island Convention Center, Rhode Island Organizing Project, SEIU-RI Council, Service Employees International Union, single payer, The Women's Project, TrumpCare, Women and Infants Hospital | Leave a response
ACLU and RI Legal Services file civil rights complaint against RIDLT over lack of language accommodations
By ACLU of RI on July 6, 2017
The complaint, on behalf of Gracianne Noel, a Haitian Creole speaker, argues that RIDLT is in violation of a federal law known as Title VI, which requires agencies receiving federal funding to provide meaningful access to programs and services for individuals with limited English proficiency.
Posted in Civil Rights, Featured, Immigration, Inequality, Infrastructure, Labor, Race & Racism, Rhode Island, Social Services, Unemployment | Tagged ACLU of RI, American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, Conciliation Agreement, Gracianne Noel, Jennifer Doucleff, LEP, limited English proficiency, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Rhode Island Legal Services, RIDLT, RIDLT TeleServe, RILS, Steven Brown, Title VI, ui, unemployment insurance, United States Department of Labor, USDOL, Veronika Kot | Leave a response
DHS report shows lack of improvement in processing SNAP Benefits
By ACLU of RI on May 18, 2017
The Department of Human Services showed virtually no improvement in April in the timely processing of SNAP (food stamp) applications, including for people the Department acknowledges were entitled to emergency relief.
Posted in Class Warfare, Corporate Greed, Disability Services, Featured, Health Care, Inequality, Infrastructure, Poverty, Rhode Island, Social Services, State House | Tagged ACLU, ACLU of Rhode Island, Department of Human Services, DHS, Gina Raimondo, lynette labinger, National Center for Law and Economic Justice, NCLEJ, SNAP, UHIP | Leave a response
DHS still far behind on SNAP benefit applications
By ACLU of RI on May 8, 2017
By the end of August, DHS must timely decide 96 percent of SNAP expedited and regular applications. The federal court will retain jurisdiction of the case for at least one year after the state first achieves the 96 percent compliance rate.
Posted in Featured, News, Poverty, Social Services | Tagged ACLU, American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, DHS, Eric Beane, lynette labinger, National Center for Law and Economic Justice, NCLEJ, RI Department of Human Services, SNAP, UHIP | 1 Response
Earned sick days legislation overwhelmingly popular with the public
By Steve Ahlquist on March 31, 2017
A new public opinion poll shows that 82.2 percent of likely voters in Rhode Island support earned sick days and want to see a statewide policy enacted.
Posted in Connecticut, Economics, Featured, Health Care, Labor, Massachusetts, New York City, Pittsburgh, Providence, Reproductive Rights, Rhode Island, Social Services, State House, Vermont, Video, Women | Tagged A Better Balance, Blue Sun Campaigns, Bryan Rinebolt, Casey Sardo, Dan Cowan, Democrats, Economic Progress Institute, Georgia Hollister-Isman, Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act, House Labor, Hudson Street Deli, Interview Connections, Rachel Flum, Republicans, Rhode Island Working Families, Sara Braganca, Sherry Leiwant | 2 Responses
Powerful speakers help RISE UP! Rhode Island celebrate Women’s History Month
By Steve Ahlquist on March 27, 2017
RISE UP! Rhode Island held a rally on Saturday to honor and celebrate Women’s History Month and the work of multiple human rights organizations in RI.
Posted in Activism, Civil Rights, Events, Featured, Health Care, LGBTQ, Photos, Politics, Race & Racism, Religion, Sex Work, Social Services, Video, Women, Youth | Tagged AHOPE, Becky Chace, Bella Robinson, Celia Contreras, COYOTE RI, Deb Perry, Diane Cocozza Martins, Dorcas International Institute, Emeline, gayle goldin, Georgia Hollister‐Isman, Gloria Crist, Karen Malcolm, Kate Montiero, Kathleen Cloutier, Kelly Nevins, Kim Baker, Laurie Bradburn, Loren Spears, McAuley House Don Rhodes, Michele Matot, Planned Parenthood, Protect Our Healthcare Coalition, Rebecca Kislak, Resist Hate RI, RI Chapter of Women's March Network, RI Council for Muslim Advancement, RI Democratic Party, RI NOW, RICMA, RIPTA Riders Alliance, RISE UP! Rhode Island, Roger Williams National Memorial, Sandra McEvoy, Solid Rock Women, Sterk Zaza, The Strattones, Tomaquag Museum, Wendy Manchester Ibrahim, Women's Fund of Rhode Island, Women's History Month, Working Families of Rhode Island, Yassah Flowers, YWCA | Leave a response
Providence legislators take questions on a range of subjects at WBNA Town Hall
By Steve Ahlquist on March 12, 2017
The answers were illuminating as legislators were grilled on the Community Safety Act, fossil fuel divestment, reproductive rights, the 6/10 Connector, immigration, the John Hope Settlement House and more at the West Broadway Neighborhood Association meeting last week.
Posted in Climate, Criminal Justice, Energy, Featured, Immigration, Providence, Social Services, Video | Tagged 6/10 connector, Ana Quezada, Anastasia Williams, Bryan Principe, Community Safety Act, CSA, Harold Metts, John Hope Settlement House, John Lombardi, Mary Kay Harris, Paul Jabour, The West Broadway Neighborhood Association, WBNA | 1 Response
Legislators want to improve RI’s paid family leave program
By Steve Ahlquist on March 3, 2017
TCI provides up to four weeks of partial (about 60 percent) wage replacement for workers who need to take time from their jobs to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a newborn, adopted, or foster child.
Posted in California, Economics, Featured, Health Care, New York, Rhode Island, Social Services | Tagged Columbia Business School, Economic Progress Institute, gayle goldin, Rachel Flum, Shelby Maldonado, TCI, TDI, Temporary Caregiver Insurance Program, Temporary Disability Insurance, university of rhode island | Leave a response
State moves to settle ACLU lawsuit over UHIP ‘debacle’
By Steve Ahlquist on February 24, 2017
“This settlement agreement is a major step in addressing the fallout from the UHIP fiasco,” said ACLU of RI executive director Steven Brown.
Posted in Class Warfare, Corporate Greed, Featured, Inequality, News, Rhode Island, Social Services | Tagged ACLU, American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, Department of Human Services, DHS, Greg Bass, Gretchen Bath, healthsource ri, lynette labinger, Medicaid, National Center for Law and Economic Justice, NCLEJ, Rhode Island Legal Services, RILS, SNAP, Steven Brown, UHIP, William Smith | Leave a response
RI National Lawyers Guild holds solidarity demonstration with social justice groups
By Steve Ahlquist on February 18, 2017
“We stand in solidarity with Muslims, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and all those on the front lines of the struggle for human rights,” said Benjamin Evans of the Rhode Island National Lawyer’s Guild.
Posted in Activism, Civil Rights, Class Warfare, Climate, Congress, Corporate Greed, Criminal Justice, Disability Services, Education, Energy, Environmental Racism, Featured, Homelessness, Immigration, Inequality, Labor, LGBTQ, Photos, Poverty, Providence, Race & Racism, Rhode Island, Social Services, State House, Video, Women, Youth | Tagged AFSC-SENE, American Friends Service Committee of Southeastern New England, Benjamin Evans, Betsy DeVos, Burnside Park, Community Safety Act, donald trump, Edward Benson, FANG Collective, fuerza laboral, George Wiley Center, Henry Shelton Act, John Dineen, Martha Yaeger, Mike Araujo, my Tabor, National Lawyers Guild, Nick Katkevich, providence student union, Raul Figueroa, Rhode Island Jobs with Justice, RI ACLU, RISD, Sheida Soleimani, SNAP, US District Court in Providence, Zack Mezera | Leave a response
No fare bus pass advocates press their case at the State House
By Steve Ahlquist on January 18, 2017
I would argue that at a certain point the no-fare bus pass evolved from mere program to cherished value as uniquely Rhode Island as our historic separation of church and state and our long standing policy of saying no to the death penalty.
Posted in Activism, Civil Rights, Class Warfare, Disability Services, Featured, Inequality, Photos, Poverty, Social Services, State House, Transportation, Video | Tagged aaron regunberg, American Public Transportation Association, APTA, Christina Tate, Coalition to Preserve No-Fare Passes, Gabs Amor, General Assembly, Gina Raimondo, Harold Metts, M. Teresa Paiva-Weed, Marjorie Waters, Nicholas Mattiello, Ocean State Center for Independent Living, RIPTA, RIPTA No-Fare Bus Pass Program, RIPTA Riders, RIPTA Riders Alliance, Tim Flynn, Wayne Kezirian | 2 Responses
A social justice Christmas with the George Wiley Center
By Steve Ahlquist on December 23, 2016
It doesn’t show signs of stopping
The rents they are not dropping
Rent control is one way to go
Give us homes! Give us homes! Give us homes!
Posted in Activism, Class Warfare, Disability Services, Domestic Violence, Education, Energy, Environmental Racism, Featured, Health Care, Holidays, Immigration, Inequality, News, Photos, Social Services, State House, Video | Tagged Camilo Viveiros, Chloe Chassaing, George Wiley Center, Nicholas Mattiello, social safety net, State House | 1 Response
Work support programs help Rhode Islanders make ends meet when wages aren’t enough
By Juan Espinoza on December 14, 2016
In order to improve the economic well-being of Rhode Islanders, the Economic Progress Institute recommends the following: ensure health coverage remains affordable for Rhode Islanders; increase both the Rhode Island Earned Income Tax Credit and the minimum wage; and expand access to subsidized child care assistance.
Posted in Economics, Featured, Inequality, News, Poverty, Rhode Island, Social Services, Taxes | Tagged earned income tax credit, Economic Progress Institute, minimum wage, Rachel Flum, Rhode Island Standard of Need, RISN, RIte Care | Leave a response
ACLU files class action lawsuit against DHS over ‘Kafkaesque’ food benefit delays
By Steve Ahlquist on December 9, 2016
“Food assistance for our most vulnerable citizens only has meaning if they have timely access to it,” said ACLU volunteer attorney Lynette Labinger, “It is no answer to those eligible for food assistance today that the State needs more time and fully intends to work things out over time.”
Posted in Civil Rights, Featured, Inequality, National News, Rhode Island, Social Services, Video | Tagged ACLU, American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, DHS, Gina Raimondo, Gretchen Bath, lynette labinger, Mea Martinez, Melba Depeña Affigne, National Center for Law and Economic Justice, NCLEJ, Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Rhode Island Legal Services, RILS, Steven Brown, UHIP | 1 Response
First Neighborhood Health Station breaks ground in Central Falls
By Steve Ahlquist on October 17, 2016
Think of it as the “Deepwater Wind” of health care: Innovation, starting in Rhode Island, that could be a model for the world. That’s how revolutionary the concept of the Neighborhood Health Station could be, and the first one is being rolled out in Central Falls.
Posted in Featured, Health Care, News, Rhode Island, Social Services, Video | Tagged Blackstone Valley Community Health Care, Brown University, BVCHC, Central Falls, David Cicilline, james diossa, Medicare for All, Michael Fine, pablo rodriguez, Rhode Island Department of Health, RIDOH, single payer | Leave a response

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