ɫ����̳

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — In the middle of a group project at ɫ����̳’s Providence campus, Franyelys “Frannie” West ’25 and her classmates were creating a company handbook and posed a question that set her next adventure into motion: “How are you going to make sure your staff are trained properly and set up for success?”

While West was earning her Master of Public Administration degree from the RWU School of Justice Studies, she had co-launched and served as CEO the , an organization that empowers individuals and families across the state to navigate the healthcare system and bridge the gap by providing compassionate, community-based support and access to resources. West also saw a need to develop a workforce that was skilled in supporting those communities, and reached out to collaborate with the RWU Extension School (RWU EXT) to create a professional program, knowing RWU EXT’s leadership in designing affordable, industry-aligned programming and building community partnerships.

It’s those community connections that inspired West to create the Pawtucket-based RI Support Network and pursue an MPA. But her story began on Congress Avenue in South Providence where she grew up, and it influenced who she is today.

“It helps me connect with the people I serve through RI Support Network, because I’ve lived through many of the same barriers – poverty, lack of access to resources, language and cultural challenges,” she said.

Her MPA helped her not only learn how to build up her organization, but connect on a personal level with the clients she serves. By receiving her degree and launching her organization at the same time, she was able to directly apply her new knowledge to her field and in numerous ways, including helping a client apply for a Section 8 Housing voucher and for school resources to continue her nursing education.

“The professors and school really support my organization and helped me create a resume to get the business off the ground,” West said.

Buoyed by the academic foundation and support, West combined her roots and education to take her health worker journey to the next level by offering a course through the RWU Extension School to train the next generation of skilled and compassionate community health workers.

In partnership with RWU EXT, West created a 120-hour, eight-week Community Health Worker (CHW) training program of hybrid online and in-person instruction. The program is designed to address the critical need for CHWs and offers a comprehensive training and hands-on experience to prepare individuals for certification through the  (RICB). The program allows students the flexibility to focus on the populations they wish to serve, whether it’s pediatric or geriatric care. Because it’s a hybrid learning environment, her staff can complete the course in their own time without taking away from their professional work.

In addition to receiving certification, individuals in the program go through 1,000 hours of supervised fieldwork provided by RI Support Network, 50 hours of direct supervision by experienced CHWs, and receive a stipend during the fieldwork period to financially support trainees. To ensure a direct pipeline from education to career placement, RI Support Network will assist with job placement and help open doors to community health programs, hospitals, schools and social service agencies.

The first program session began April 11 at RWU EXT’s Providence campus. Another CHW program will be offered later this year.

The need for CHWs is greater than ever, with a projected 13 percent increase in employment from 2023 to 2033, per the . West and her colleagues represented Rhode Island’s workers on a national level when they visited Washington, D.C. for the CHW Capitol Hill Visit from March 10-12. They delivered the strong message that CHWs are needed and have the opportunity to impact their communities, especially working with individuals on Medicaid. Her team participated in advocacy training, a CHW rally, Congressional briefing and met with legislative staff to push awareness and visibility within the profession.

“These kinds of experiences are so important because they give CHWs a voice at the federal level,” West said.

RI Support Network staff are bilingual to help a wide range of Rhode Island residents and make sure no one slips through the cracks. The organization is closely connected with Amos House, West’s former employer, as a housing locator, as well as Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI, the Providence Center, Salvation Army, RI Community Food Bank, Progreso Latino and many more.

“These relationships help us meet our clients where they are and provide wraparound support,” West said. “Our office is located in Pawtucket, right on the border of Providence, and it’s been super successful. We’re right at a bus stop, so it’s easy for people to reach us, even if they’re coming from different parts of the city.”

West is working on opening a second location in the heart of downtown to expand RI Support Network’s reach into a more central location for those who do not have access to transportation or cannot travel far. To trial the Providence location, RI Support Network is hosting a free summer camp for families at RWU EXT. It will focus on health and wellness with the following volunteers: yoga instructor, nurse practitioner, BSN, firefighter, police officer, attorney, clinician, teacher. Every Friday, they’ll take field trips to a local farm to teach kids about healthy living and caring for themselves. 

“The goal is to give them a safe, structured, and meaningful summer experience—and to create a model we can grow with more funding and support next year,” West said.

This spring, West is not only achieving an MPA from RWU, but also a new direction for her career, as she passes the torch to a new group of skilled professionals in leading health workers to better serve their communities.