SMITHFIELD – School officials say they are pleased to announce that the district has been awarded $513,690 in year-one funding through the Rhode Island Rural Health Transformation Program to expand opportunities for students to discover and pursue careers in healthcare.
The RHTP is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to improve the health and healthcare services of rural Rhode Islanders.
Rhode Island is working toward a connected, community-based system ensuring every rural resident has timely, coordinated, high-quality care where they live. The program will build lasting infrastructure that empowers communities to lead their own health transformation, states a release.
CMS recently announced approximately $5.48 million in funding for 14 Rhode Island local education agencies and schools to expand healthcare-focused Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities. The initiative is intended to provide students with greater awareness, preparation, and exposure to high-demand health professions, including behavioral health, biomedical sciences, emergency medical services, nursing, rehabilitation, and other health-care fields.
Smithfield’s project, led by CTE Coordinator Kristen Luongo, will build upon the district’s existing Biomedical Sciences CTE pathway while developing new opportunities in Behavioral Health and other health-care career fields.
The funding will support healthcare career education infrastructure, including specialized instructional materials and equipment, professional learning and certifications, work-based learning supports, and minor renovations to create appropriate learning environments for healthcare education.
The district will also expand opportunities for younger students to explore health careers, strengthening the K-12 pipeline into healthcare education. Rhode Island’s RHTP specifically identifies expanding early K–12 exposure to health careers through CTE programs in rural school districts as part of its Rural Workforce Program.
“The Rural Health Expansion Grant represents an exciting investment in both our students and our community, allowing Smithfield Public Schools to expand our Biomedical CTE program and, most importantly, establish a new Behavioral Health program. By preparing students for meaningful careers in behavioral health, a field facing critical need for qualified professionals, we are creating pathways to high demand careers while helping strengthen access to essential services in our community,” stated Supt. Lisa Odom-Villella.
