 |
|
1/24/2022
|
Ranglin-Vassell named Maternal and Child Health Fellow
|
 Fellows exchange policy experience, ideas with other leaders around nation throughout year
STATE HOUSE – Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell has been selected to serve as a 2022 Maternal and Child Health Fellow this year by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The program is designed to support legislators who are experienced or emerging leaders in maternal and child health.
Representative Ranglin-Vassell (D-Dist. 5, Providence), who was nominated for the fellowship by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, participated in the Maternal and Child Health Fellows’ kickoff meeting Friday and Saturday. This event, held virtually due to the recent COVID surge, set the stage for the work the fellows will do this year, with topics emphasizing health issues such as efforts to reduce infant and maternal mortality, address mental health and substance misuse, and improve access and care for mothers and children.
Representative Ranglin-Vassell was asked to kick off the meeting’s discussion on adverse childhood experiences by talking about, among other things, her legislation (2022-H 6667) to establish and implement trauma-informed practices within all elementary and secondary education schools throughout the state. Such practices would recognize that many children have experienced trauma, that trauma can impact learning and relationships, and that school environments where all students and adults feel safe, welcomed and supported can enable students to succeed despite traumatic experiences.
“Children are exposed to trauma from the death of loved ones, from suicide, poverty, hunger, gun violence and living with the harmful effects of COVID. As a teacher in our Providence public schools, I see the effects on children every day. I see it on their mental-emotional-physical selves. I think it is so important for teachers and school staff to have the tools necessary to teach children in a compassionate way, with a deep understanding of the impact of trauma on their brain and on their learning, said Representative Ranglin-Vassell.
As a Maternal and Child Health Fellow, Representative Ranglin-Vassell will take part in policy discussions with other fellows throughout the year, including several online meetings and an in-person meeting planned in the spring in Denver. Travel costs will be covered by NCSL through a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
Representative Ranglin-Vassell has been a strong proponent of maternal health and many initiatives to improve health, wellness and opportunities for children. She was the sponsor of a law (2021-H 5929A) passed last year to make doula services eligible for reimbursement through private insurance plans, and cosponsored last year’s law banning firearms from school grounds, with certain exceptions. She also is the sponsor of legislation to establish universal free school lunch, a bill to study the impact, outcome and needs of children with incarcerated parents, and another to establish a students’ bill of rights.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
|
|