No Wrong Door: Connecting Residents to Mental Health and Substance Use Support

Rebecca Elwell leading a No Wrong Door session

Where do we turn when we or someone we love needs help addressing a mental health or substance use condition? Often, people in need of help with these challenges don't know where to turn. Rhode Island's No Wrong Door initiative addresses this crucial need by connecting Newport County residents with a continuum of care best suited to their recovery.

No Wrong Door RI is a strong, substantive network of behavioral health and community organizations that links a wide array of services across Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton and Jamestown. The initiative ensures that if someone asks about getting help from any organization in the network, they are never in the wrong place. They will receive the information and care they need from the best resources available.

Throughout this program, Newport County residents are connected with a diverse group of professionals, including licensed social workers and substance use specialists. This comprehensive approach ensures that individuals can access the specific support they need, regardless of which organization they initially contact.

The underlying concept behind No Wrong Door's model has been practiced in communities throughout the world in recent years. In Newport County, the idea emerged from collaborative brainstorming among local healthcare leaders. Dr. Jon Brett, a clinical psychologist at Newport Hospital, along with Linda Hurley from CODAC and Jamie Lehane from Newport Mental Health, recognized the absence of a continuum of care for residents of Newport County and saw the need for such a model in his own community.

In a 2018 conversation, Dr. Brett described this need to Diana Oehrli, Trustee of the Gruben Charitable Foundation. Diana shared this information with then-Salve Regina President Sister Jane Gerety, who saw an opportunity to convene local nonprofits and discuss the need for increased collaboration. Sister Gerety invited a handful of organizations to a small lunch to explore ways to best address our community's needs.

"During that lunch, it became clear that communication between organizations could only be in the best interest of Newport County residents," Diana Oehrli said. "If there is a perception of a waiting list at one organization when there isn't one, that's a problem."

That convening and subsequent planning conversations with the van Beuren Foundation yielded No Wrong Door RI as a program of Strategic Prevention Partnerships, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing community health led by Rebecca Elwell, who was involved through her role as Director of the Newport Prevention Coalition. Rebecca now leads the No Wrong Door program. In describing the impact of No Wrong Door, she says, "Our greatest achievement has been to bring community members with genuine lived experience to the table - providing an opportunity for them to shape and guide behavioral health services based on their own experiences within the system. We seek to amplify the voices of folks that for too long have been unheard."

We encourage you to visit No Wrong Door's web site and their program descriptions to become more familiar with the network's scope. And we encourage you to share this information with family, friends, and colleagues so all of our community members know that there is a wide, accessible network of supports available for everyone who needs it.

Free Concert Tickets Initiative Brings Classical Music to the Community

Students attending Chad Hoopes and Anne Marie McDermott’s concert at the Newport Classical Recital Hall on October 6, 2023

Newport Classical is an Aquidneck Island-based nonprofit celebrating classical music as a living art form through inspiring concerts in intimate and historic locations. Their performances have the power to soothe, enrich, heal, inspire, and renew their audience members, and it's essential that members of our community have access to such an experience. To that end, Newport Classical and the Gruben Charitable Foundation are partnering to provide free concert tickets to each of the Chamber Series performances. 

Like Newport Classical, the foundation deeply values the life-changing power of music. “Personally, I wouldn’t be here today, if it weren’t for playing the piano and singing,”  says Diana Oehrli, trustee of the Gruben Charitable Foundation. “In Switzerland, where I am partly from and lived for many years, the government invests in music instruction for children."

The free ticket initiative is having a deep impact on many of our community members, including Alejandro Quintero Cashore, a 10th grade student at Bishop Hendricken High School and cello student. Alejandro vividly describes his concert experience: "This past summer, I had the opportunity and the privilege of attending Zlatomir Fung's performance of the 6 Bach Cello Suites at the spectacular venue of The Breakers. The experienc not only changed the way I think about the six suites that serve as the backbone of the cello repertoire, but also the way in which I interact with cello, in the hopes that I might imitate some of the grace and sheer magic that Zlatomir shared that night. I am deeply grateful to Newport Classical for curating such a moving experience."

Students attending pianist Eric Lu’s performance on January 26, 2024

Decades of scientific research illustrate the cognitive and emotional benefits of music. Attending a concert provides both sensory delight and improvements to our health. We encourage our neighbors to attend a Newport Classical concert and experience all that live music has to offer. Please visit Newport Classical's web site for their performance schedule and more information about the free ticket initiative.

Alejandro's enthusiasm is contagious. He says, "As a young cellist who is striving to figure out my path for college and beyond, it is experiences like these that reinvigorate the curiosity and joy that are what has helped me come to love classical music."

To learn more about the extraordinary power of music, please explore these links:

Harvard Medical School: Music boosts our well-being

Johns Hopkins Medicine: The brain-music connection

Stanford Medicine: Music moves brain to pay attention

Bike Newport Unveils 'Traffic Garden': Innovative Space Teaches Road Safety to Young Cyclists

Bike Newport’s  new Traffic Garden.

Bike Newport is committed to encouraging the switch from cars to bicycles, enabling a more complete appreciation of Newport's beauty. The organization fosters an environment conducive to increased biking for both transportation and recreation. Their efforts are instrumental in transforming Newport into a bike-friendly city through education, advocacy, and community engagement.

Recently, Bike Newport unveiled the Traffic Garden, a vibrant educational space at Miantonomi Park's edge on Hillside Avenue. This reimagined parking lot now features a mini streetscape with painted roadways, where young cyclists learn about road markings, crosswalks, and traffic signs in a car-free environment. This initiative not only improves road safety education but also promotes respect among all road users.

Located near several community hubs, including Pell Elementary School and the Florence Gray Community Center, the Traffic Garden is easily accessible, especially for those without cars or reliable transit.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong highlighted the project's contribution to the city's health, safety, and well-being. He commended Bike Newport for transforming a vacant city space into a valuable community asset.

For more information on the Traffic Garden and other Bike Newport initiatives, visit their website. Don't miss experiencing the Traffic Garden in person!

RISHM: Unveiling Rhode Island's Hidden History Through Medallion Markers

Charles Roberts, Founder of RISHM, with Reverend Bishop Nicholas Knisely and Reverend Canon Timothy Watt at the dedication of the medallion marker at Trinity Church in Newport.

At the core of Rhode Island Slave History Medallion's (RISHM) mission lies its commitment to nurturing healthy communities where medallion markers promote recognition of the lives and contributions of people of color in our nation's founding and for nearly four centuries. RISHM conducts research and collaborates with historic sites to install bronze medallions. They also organize public ceremonies that unveil the little known stories of the enslaved, honoring their lives and contributions through multicultural performances and humanities programs helping to inspire understanding and foster racial healing.

These medallion markers highlight Rhode Island's rich and diverse cultural heritage, extracting documented stories of Black and Indigenous people from dusty history archives and placing them squarely in the light for all to access. In doing so, these medallions challenge the prevailing, exclusive narrative of white-only history by providing an inclusive lens through which our diverse population can engage with history, explore their heritage, cultivate deeper empathy, and foster a healthier, more inclusive environment.

The first maker was installed at Bowen's Wharf in Newport, a site that witnessed the arrival and departure of enslaved individuals on sailing ships during the 18th century, as well as their labor in trades related to maritime commerce. Since the installation of this first marker, the project has expanded significantly, with additional markers finding homes in Barrington, Bristol, East Greenwich, Jamestown, Newport, North Kingstown, Portsmouth, Providence, and Warren.

RISHM's ambitious goal is to install at least one medallion in each of the 25 Colonial era cities and towns linked to slavery, thus creating a comprehensive Medallion Map of Remembrance. This map, a vital component in Rhode Island’s Heritage and Cultural Diversity program, will serve as both a physical and a virtual roadmap, guiding residents, students, researchers, visitors, and particularly families of BIPOC descent toward an inclusive understanding of our state's history.

In addition to their medallion installations, RISHM offers a breadth of related programming, including walking tours, speaking engagements, events celebrating Black History Month and Juneteenth, anti-bias training, and curriculum development.

We encourage you to visit the medallion sites, scan the associated QR codes, and delve into the important stories anchored in these locations. RISHM offers us a vital opportunity to deepen our understanding of Rhode Island's history and heritage. For more detailed information about the sites and programming, please visit https://rishm.org/.

Free Music Lessons Initiative Launches for Aquidneck Island Students

Photo: Newport Festivals Foundation

The Gruben Charitable Foundation and Newport Festivals Foundation have established a new initiative to provide free private music lessons for up to 80 students on the island in the next year. The initiative will allow students to apply to receive ten, half-hour-long lessons at the Newport Music Shop, located on Bellevue Ave. Students can also rent a free instrument for the duration of their lessons. 

“Personally, I wouldn’t be here today, if it weren’t for playing the piano and singing,”  says Diana Oehrli, trustee of the Gruben Charitable Foundation. “In Switzerland, where I am partly from and lived for many years, the government invests in music instruction for children. Science is finally catching up to what humanity has known for ages. Playing an instrument is one of the healthiest things you can do for your brain, central nervous system, and for the development of minds at any age.”

“Our festivals are known around the world, so we feel a real responsibility to make sure every student in our backyard of Aquidneck Island has access to high-quality music instruction,” said Dan Swain, Director of Programs for Newport Festivals Foundation. “When the Gruben Charitable Foundation approached us with this idea to provide free music lessons, we were thrilled. It’s such a simple, yet effective solution: give kids free private lessons and an instrument. It’s the best way to improve their confidence as a musician, which will make them more likely to pursue music for years to come.”

Students can visit newportfestivals.org/lessons to sign up for lessons and rent a free instrument. Lessons will begin in the fall and be offered in guitar, piano, voice, bass, drums, saxophone, trumpet, flute, trombone, songwriting, and music theory. 

Registration does not guarantee lessons. Applicants will be added to a waitlist. Once a spot opens up, Newport Festivals Foundation will email a code to receive free lessons at the Newport Music Shop located at 142 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI. Lessons will begin in the fall.  

Questions about the initiative can be sent to info@newportfestivals.org

Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute Launches Groundbreaking Psilocybin Study for Treatment-Resistant OCD

The Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute has embarked on an innovative research project investigating the therapeutic uses of psilocybin for a wide range of psychiatric disorders. With multi-year support from the Gruben Charitable Foundation, the hospital is currently preparing for a five-year pilot study of psilocybin for patients with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Rhode Island Hospital psychiatrist Mohamed Sherif, MD, PhD, will lead the study. “In depression, psilocybin and ketamine seem to work by triggering brain changes much faster than with current treatment,” says Dr. Sherif. “In addition, psilocybin effects seem to be lasting longer. It is encouraging to examine psilocybin’s therapeutic potential in OCD as well.”

You can read more about this cutting edge research in a recent Lifespan article. We are delighted to support this work, and we look forward to learning from the results of the study.

Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District: Cultivating Environmental Stewardship Through Programs

From community gardens to student driven agriculture education to support of local farmers, Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District (ERICD) offers a wide array of vibrant programs and services that preserve our state’s natural resources. Serving Newport and Bristol Counties, ERICD works with landowners, farmers, municipalities, state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and the residential community to protect natural resources such as soil, water, and air. 

A key piece of ERICD’s work is collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to provide resources to farmers and landowners to implement conservation-smart practices on their land that they wouldn’t be able to install otherwise. In addition, ERICD partners with Portsmouth School District on the Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm – a student-driven sustainable community agriculture education program that teaches about the environment through experiential learning. The organization also provides funding for community gardens, educates state and local governments for smart environmental legislation, and engages the community to promote conservation practices.

This month ERICD invites our community to participate in its numerous Earth Month programs. The organization will be offering three rain barrel workshops, three plogging (trash pickup) opportunities, a seedling sale, a community learning workshop about residential stormwater, and a clean comedy show. Details for all of these events can be found on their website. 

New face at the foundation

Dear Friends,

While this is an unusual and difficult moment in the world, work at the Gruben Charitable Foundation continues, and I’m pleased to be in touch to tell you about some exciting changes here.  I recently invited Lynne Harlow to join the Gruben Charitable Foundation team, and she will be assisting us with our grant making. Lynne is experienced in foundation management, and she looks forward to supporting you by answering any questions you may have.  In order to better serve our mission, we are introducing a new application process, including a set application deadline of May 1, 2020.  This new process requests key information from all applicants and is intended to require only a small amount of your time, as we recognize that your time is best spent on the services and programs you provide to your communities. 

Below are all of the details for applying to the Foundation by May 1 for support in 2020.  This information can also be found on our web site. Please contact Lynne with any questions about this new process.  You can contact her directly at Lynne@grubencharitablefoundation.org. 

Wishing you a safe, healthy and happy spring!

Best,

Diana Oehrli
Executive Director/Trustee
The Gruben Charitable Foundation

_________

Gruben Charitable Foundation Application Guidelines

Please note that the Foundation has implemented a new application process beginning in 2020.The Gruben Charitable Foundation is pleased to consider applications from Rhode Island-based organizations seeking support of services and programs that focus on physical, mental, and social well being, with an emphasis on the natural environment and addictive illnesses.  The Foundation will consider applications from organizations whose work intersects with these areas in varied ways. Organizations whose programs align with these areas of interest may submit an application following the guidelines below. The application deadline is May 1, 2020. All applications must be submitted in the form of a single PDF document.  The PDF should be named YourOrganizationName_2020.pdf.  Please include the following information in the PDF:

• Organization’s mailing address, telephone and website

• Executive Director’s name, mailing address, telephone and email

• A brief description of how the work of your organization aligns with a focus area of the Gruben Charitable Foundation: the environment and mental health

• A brief summary of your organization’s mission and programs, including the number of staff and volunteers

• A current annual budget

• A list of current funders

• A brief description of the populations and geographic areas served

• A list of organizations and/or programs with whom your organization partners

• For 2019 grantees, please include a brief summary of how last year’s grant was used

Please send the PDF application as an email attachment.  All applications should be emailed to Lynne@grubencharitablefoundation.org. 

The application review process will take place May through October.  All applicants will receive a response from the foundation no later than November 15.  Please note that organizations that have previously received support from the Gruben Charitable Foundation are not guaranteed future funding.  

Any questions regarding the application process may be directed by email to Lynne@grubencharitablefoundation.org. 

$184,000 Gift to Recovery Center Funds Family Support

Image: Lifespan

Since opening last June, the Lifespan Recovery Center has been recognized by state and health care leaders for its unique position to address the opioid epidemic. Operating as a Rhode Island Hospital program, the center provides comprehensive outpatient treatment integrated into a complete medical center for those seeking to overcome opioid use disorder.

Located on Corliss Street in Providence, the center’s team is highly experienced in treating patients struggling with substance use. From prescribing physicians and psychologist services to a program manager, care coordinator and recovery coach, the staff takes a coordinated approach to care. Along with medication-assisted recovery utilizing Suboxone, a low-risk medication that’s an effective medically-supervised method for potentially weaning off opioids, the center offers comprehensive education and support.

“This is an evidence-based, multidisciplinary recovery program that regards opioid abuse as a chronic medical illness,” says Richard J. Goldberg, MD, MS, Lifespan Senior Vice President of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. “We know that if you offer psychological therapies in addition to medication, more patients have a better outcome.” Further bolstering its services, Rhode Island Hospital recently received a generous $184,000 gift from the Gruben Charitable Foundation to fund the center’s Family Education and Support Program. The foundation’s trustee and executive director, Diana Oehrli, is the daughter of Elizabeth “Lisette” Prince of Newport, who together with her children, including sons Guillaume and Regis de Ramel, established The Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute with a transformational gift from The Frederick Henry Prince 1932 Trust.

“My family’s historical philanthropy has always centered on health, so focusing on addiction keeps with that tradition,” says Diana. “Addiction is a painful, chronic disease and I truly believe educating the family is key to helping people get better and halting addiction’s spread to future generations.”

Developed specifically for family and friends of individuals struggling with opioid use disorder, the Family Education and Support Program employs a dual-pronged approach. Patients and their loved ones together attend a weekly group session, learning about addiction, recovery, treatment, and interpersonal dynamics. Separately, family and friends are also provided a group forum to share their experiences and the challenges of supporting someone in recovery. “Family and friends play critical roles in helping individuals with substance use issues enter and remain in treatment—our goal is to empower them in a way that makes a positive impact on the long-term recovery of their loved one,” said Kirsten Langdon, PhD, a clinical psychologist and Director of Behavioral Therapy at the Lifespan Recovery Center.

“We could not be more grateful to Diana for her extraordinary generosity and her commitment to this community health crisis.” Adds Diana, “There is an incredible need to provide comprehensive treatment, and I believe Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan have begun to create a model for addiction recovery medical centers across our country.”

Excerpt: Rhode Island Hospital Breakthroughs Newsletter, 2018