Lifespan Community Health Institute

Lifespan Community Training Center

American Heart Association (AHA) Community Training Center/CPR, AED and First Aid Classes

Lifespan Community Health Institute (LCHI) offers certified and non-certified cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) and First Aid classes. Additionally, LCHI monitors and credentials CPR instructors who adhere to the American Heart Association Guidelines. There is a fee for participating in some of these programs.  

Classes offered include:

  • Basic Life Support (BLS) Health Care Provider (2 year certification upon completion)
  • Heartsaver AED and First Aid (2 year certification upon completion)
  • CPR for Family and Friends (non-certified class providing basic skills)
A class held by LCHI.

LCHI AHA Classes

Fiscal Year 2020 Numbers:

  •  2,582 CPR classes taught
  • • 9,288 people trained

Healthwise

Rhode Island experiences a higher than average rate of emergency department visits. Becoming insured, building a relationship with a primary care provider, and learning how to navigate the healthcare system may reduce unnecessary emergency department utilization. The Healthwise presentation informs students about health choices including when to call their doctor, self treat or go to the emergency department. The course and accompanying book explain a large variety of medical problems and treatment options.

Fiscal Year 2015 Numbers:

  • 23 classes offered
  • 319 students
  • 96% of the beneficiaries were from core cities:

Financial Literacy

Managing one’s finances well promotes economic security, health and wellbeing. In partnership with Coastway Community Bank, LCHI offers the DollarWise course, designed to help participants manage money more wisely. Topics include budgeting, checking account basics, identity theft prevention, and managing credit. Participants have ample time to ask questions and walk away with worksheets to help them manage their finances in the future. Sessions are led by a financial educator and are available in English and Spanish.

Safe Sitter classes

It is important for children to learn how to safely care for themselves and others, especially before young people begin babysitting other children. The classes teach children 11 to 14 years old about child development, CPR, choking prevention, first aid, preventing problem behaviors, and how to manage emergencies.

A teenager babysitting young children.

Safe Sitter Classes

Fiscal Year 2020 Numbers:

  •  18 classes taught
  •  136 people trained

Unnatural Causes trainings

Health, education and social service organizations need to understand the root causes of our alarming socio-economic and racial inequities in health. The “Unnatural Causes” documentary crisscrosses the nation uncovering startling findings that suggest there is much more to our health than bad habits, health care, or unlucky genes. The social circumstances in which we are born, live, and work can actually get under our skin and disrupt our physiology as much as germs and viruses. LCHI offers facilitated screenings and discussion of this eye opening, educational documentary.

Fiscal Year 2015 Numbers:

  • Two presentations given
  • 48 people served in total
  • 100% of the beneficiaries were from core cities:

Raising of America

The "Raising of America Series" is a five-part documentary series that explores the question: Why are so many children in America faring so poorly? What are the consequences for the nation’s future? How might we, as a nation, do better? The series investigates these questions through different lenses: What does science tell us about the enduring importance of early life experiences on the brain and body? What it is like to be a parent today? And what policies and structures help or hinder the raising of healthy, happy and compassionate children? The Signature Hour covers all three of these issues. The four subsequent episodes each take a closer look.

LCHI offers facilitated screenings and discussion of this series.

The Weight of the Nation

This four-part documentary series features case studies, interviews with our nation’s leading experts, and individuals and their families struggling with obesity.  LCHI also offers facilitated screenings and discussion of this series.

Mental Health First Aid

In collaboration with Gateway Healthcare and Emma Pendelton Bradley Hospital, LCHI will offer mental health first aid (MHFA) training. It is an innovative eight-hour course that trains people to recognize the signs and symptoms of common mental health disorders, to provide immediate initial on-site help, and to guide individuals toward appropriate professional assistance. Participants will leave MHFA training with simple yet powerful tools they can use to assist individuals who may be experiencing a mental health crisis, diffuse potentially dangerous or disruptive situations, and help improve mental health literacy.

One of the first sites chosen to implement MHFA in 2008, Gateway Healthcare has trained more than 750 people, mostly public safety (police and fire) and education professionals. LCHI will assist Gateway Healthcare and the Bradley Hospital to achieve their goals of providing MHFA to more lay audiences in community settings.  

Incredible Years Parenting Classes

Incredible Years is a proven effective program that builds positive parenting strategies and assists parents in managing young children’s behavior, ultimately reducing early onset behavior problems and preventing adolescent delinquency, substance abuse, and violence.

Parents who complete the program:

  • Feel more confident dealing with tantrums 
  • Help their children learn to listen and manage feelings 
  • Prepare their children for future school success 
  • Support positive relationships 
  • Get support and manage parenting stress

For many years, Dr. Stephanie Shepard Umaschi at Bradley Hospital has been implementing the Incredible Years program in Rhode Island, as well as providing technical assistance to other providers in the state. LCHI partners with Dr. Shepard Umaschi to offer more sessions of this highly effective program.

Food is Medicine

Mary Flynn, PhD, RD, LDN, is a research dietician at The Miriam Hospital. In 2000, she developed a plant-based diet that features extra virgin olive oil, whole grain and legumes. Dr. Flynn has delivered the 6-session "Food is Medicine" cooking and education program repeatedly over the past 15 years, in partnership with local organizations including the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, the Rhode Island Free Clinic, and LCHI. The program has been studied and evaluation results published in peer-reviewed journals. Exciting findings of the program include that when participants replace at least 3 meals a week with the recipes, they report less food insecurity (the program has been proven to be less costly than the USDA recommended MyPlate diet), lower BMI and waist circumference, lower blood pressure, and increased consumption of vegetables.

Dr. Mary Flynn in Lifespan demonstration kitchen

Food is Medicine

LCHI is pleased to partner with Dr. Flynn to offer Food is Medicine at its facility in South Providence. 

Sign up for one of our classes

To find out more information about our programs or to sign up, call us at 401-444-8009 or email [email protected].