The Coventry Courier: Langevin visits Coventry, touts grants

By Kendra Leigh Miller

COVENTRY — As part of his summer road trip through Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District, Congressman Jim Langevin made a stop at the Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP) Family Health Services of Coventry Wednesday morning to talk about the needs of the health care center within the community and talk about the $2,988,180 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for facility renovation and expansion and the $1 million for dental service expansion in Coventry.

“Community health centers provide comprehensive, coordinated and affordable care to our communities and to the most vulnerable Rhode Islanders, in particular,” said Langevin. “Building health center capacity and expanding services for these individuals and families that need it most, will increase access to preventive treatments and other critical health care services and will foster healthier communities.”

The CCAP provides comprehensive, quality, affordable health dental and behavioral health care for the entire family. Their board-certified doctors, nurse practitioners, dentists, hygienists, licensed clinical social workers and other healthcare professionals are knowledgeable, caring, understanding and dedicated to getting people healthy and keeping them healthy.
“We are extremely excited about receiving this grant and want o thank our entire federal delegation for their continued support,” said Joanne McGunagle, president and CEO of the CCAP. “This funding will allow CCAP to expand much-needed quality and affordable dental services at our Coventry health center.”

Part of Wednesday’s conversation with the CCAP staff focused on ways to get word out to the community that the health care service is there in Coventry and offers a full array of much-needed services. Some services are taken care of, in part, through health coverage while other needs are provided for on a sliding scale.

“The work you’re all doing here speaks for itself,” Langevin said, in response to the staff thanking him for his help at the federal level. Langevin felt it was important to make this one of his many stops as he makes his way across the state, so he can see first-hand the work that is being done throughout the state in so many areas, healthcare being just one of them.
According to a press release, his tour began Aug. 1 and will take him through a series of business tours, constituent meetings and public events. He’s calling it his summer “Rhode Trip.”

“Being accessible to the people I represent and to all Rhode Islanders has always been a top priority,” he said. “Whether it’s an in-person town hall meeting or at my first-ever Twitter town hall in May or just in the local coffee shop, I encourage my constituents to reach out and connect with me and my office to share concerns, ask questions and give feedback on the challenges and opportunities that are facing our communities.”

Langevin said Rhode Island is the smallest state, but its population is very diverse. The CCAP is now accepting new patients at their center, located at 191 MacArthur Blvd in Coventry.