Healthcentric Advisors is proud to announce that we have been awarded federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living (ACL) as one of only two organizations nationwide selected to receive support through the 2026 Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services (INNU) initiative. The funding will support a new statewide initiative helping older adults with behavioral health conditions more fully access and benefit from senior nutrition programs.
as one of only two organizations nationwide selected to receive this funding through the 2026 Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services (INNU) initiative.
The three-year initiative, Nourishing Minds and Communities – Rhode Island’s Statewide Model to Support Behavioral Health Needs in Senior Nutrition Programs, will bring together organizations across Rhode Island’s aging, nutrition, behavioral health, and community service networks to identify and address barriers to participation in congregate dining programs.
Through the initiative, senior nutrition program staff and volunteers will receive training and resources to better support participants with behavioral health needs. The project will also strengthen connections between nutrition and behavioral health providers and promote person-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practices to create more welcoming and accessible programs.
Healthcentric Advisors will lead the initiative in collaboration with core partners Thrive Behavioral Health and Progreso Latino, along with community partners and stakeholders from across Rhode Island. A multidisciplinary Steering Committee will help guide the work and ensure the voices and experiences of older adults and their communities remain at the center of the project.
Over three years, the initiative will expand across all 15 Rhode Island Health Equity Zones and the state’s 64 senior nutrition program sites. Lessons learned through Nourishing Minds and Communities will also inform tools and resources that can help senior nutrition programs beyond Rhode Island better support older adults with behavioral health needs, extending the impact of this work to communities nationwide.
