Thundermist Health Center

We’re excited to share that our Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in Woonsocket is now on social media! You can catch up with them on Facebook and Instagram @ThundermistWIC. In addition, 2024 marks WIC’s 50th anniversary. The Thundermist WIC team will be using social media as a way to not only celebrate that milestone but also share lots of great, useful, fun information with all of you and especially the people who can benefit most from WIC’s services. Give them a follow and help spread the word!

Today we recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day. It is a day when we acknowledge the lasting impacts and challenges Indigenous peoples have faced due to colonization, while honoring their sovereignty, resilience, and invaluable contributions to our society, culture, and history. Indigenous Peoples Day is an opportunity to reflect on the history of Indigenous peoples, their resilience, and their ongoing struggles for recognition and rights. Indigenous Peoples' Day reminds us of the rich diversity of cultures that make up our nation. Thundermist’s health centers are situated on the ancestral land of the Wampanoag, Nipmuc, Pokanoket, and Nahaganset people, and we honor and respect their historical and enduring connection to it.

A well-deserved congrats to Thundermist’s Jenny Gaviria, MSW, LICSW, director of behavioral health workforce development. Outside of her work with us, she is also the co-founder of the Latino Mental Health Network (LMHN) and was honored along with her colleague at the Latino Policy Institute’s Latinos Unidos event, which was held September 12. LMHN works to address the essential needs of Latino mental and behavioral health specialists, positively transforming the state’s healthcare landscape. (Pictured from left to right: Awilda Reinoso Lopez, policy associate at the Latino Policy Institute; Sandra Victorino, co-founder of the Latino Mental Health Network and director of workforce development, diversity, inclusion and community relations; Jennifer Gaviria, co-founder of the Latino Mental Health Network and director of behavioral health workforce development; and Marcela Betancur, executive director of the Latino Policy Institute.)

Did you know every household in the U.S. is eligible to receive up to 4 free COVID-19 testing kits? All you need to do is visit https://covidtests.gov/ and sign up and the USPS will send them to you at home at no charge. It's also a good time to mention that the latest COVID booster is available, along with the new flu vaccine! Don't forget to get both to help protect yourself during flu/cold/COVID season!

Don't forget to register to vote if you haven't! Election day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Registering to vote allows you to participate in local, state, and federal elections.   To register, you must:   🔴 Be a citizen of the United States.  ⚪ A resident of Rhode Island city or town where you wish to vote.   🔵 Be at least 18 years old.   The deadline to register is Sunday, October 6. You have several ways to register, including:   ✉️ You can register by mail by completing the voter registration form and sending it to your local board of canvassers.   📄 Bring your completed voter registration form to your local board of canvassers in person.  💻 You can register online by visiting the Voter Information Center here: Welcome to your Voter Information Center with the link below. For more information, a voter registration form, your local board of canvassers, or want to register online visit,

Thank you to Delta Dental of RI for their support at the Operation Stand Down event last week. Each year at this event, Delta Dental’s support provides critical dental care to veterans who are unhoused. Thank you for bringing smiles to our state’s veterans. We are proud to be partners in delivering care to those who served. Pictured are some of our team who participated at the event.

Did you know Rhode Island passed a new law to make legally changing your name easier, safer, and more affordable? Did you know you can update the gender marker on your state and federal IDs without having to present “proof” of gender transition? Did you know your Rhode Island voter record doesn’t show your gender and you can get a free voter ID that better reflects your current appearance to vote in person? GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, Rhode Island Department of State, Swearer Center, Brown Votes, and Thundermist Health Center present “Know Your Rights: Updating IDs & Voting While Trans." Trans, nonbinary, gender diverse people and their invited guests are invited to this afternoon workshop to learn about updates to the legal name-change process in RI, how to update your ID documents, and considerations when participating in elections as a gender diverse person. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the workshop begins at 1:30 p.m. Participants will be able to receive individual support for name change and ID updates, register to vote, apply for a free voter ID, and learn about other available community resources. When: Sunday, September 29, 1-3:30 p.m. Where: Community Collaborative at 339 Eddy - 339 Eddy St., Providence, RI 02903 Who: Trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse people and their invited loved ones and guests Cost: FREE Register online at https://lu.ma/user/that.  Have questions? Email transhealth@thundermisthealth.org.

Are you registered to vote? Election day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Registering to vote allows you to participate in local, state, and federal elections.   To register, you must:   🔴 Be a citizen of the United States.  ⚪ A resident of Rhode Island city or town where you wish to vote.   🔵 Be at least 18 years old.   The deadline to register is Sunday, October 6. You have several ways to register, including:   ✉️ You can register by mail by completing the voter registration form and sending it to your local board of canvassers.   📄 Bring your completed voter registration form to your local board of canvassers in person.  💻 You can register online by visiting the Voter Information Center here: Welcome to your Voter Information Center with the link below.   For more information, a voter registration form, your local board of canvassers, or want to register online visit,

Did you know Rhode Island passed a new law to make legally changing your name easier, safer, and more affordable? Did you know you can update the gender marker on your state and federal IDs without having to present “proof” of gender transition? Did you know your Rhode Island voter record doesn’t show your gender and you can get a free voter ID that better reflects your current appearance to vote in person? GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, Rhode Island Department of State, Swearer Center, Brown Votes, and Thundermist Health Center present “Know Your Rights: Updating IDs & Voting While Trans." Trans, nonbinary, gender diverse people and their invited guests are invited to this afternoon workshop to learn about updates to the legal name-change process in RI, how to update your ID documents, and considerations when participating in elections as a gender diverse person. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the workshop begins at 1:30 p.m. Participants will be able to receive individual support for name change and ID updates, register to vote, apply for a free voter ID, and learn about other available community resources. When: Sunday, September 29, 1-3:30 p.m. Where: Community Collaborative at 339 Eddy - 339 Eddy St., Providence, RI 02903 Who: Trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse people and their invited loved ones and guests Cost: FREE Register online at https://lu.ma/user/that.  Have questions? Email transhealth@thundermisthealth.org.

Trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse people are invited to this two-part virtual Lunchtime Q&A series on hormones and other care with the Thundermist Trans Health Access Team. Information on hormone-based transition is more accessible than ever, but sometimes it is challenging to find a knowledgeable provider. Our team will provide an overview of current therapies, but more importantly, answer your questions. These sessions are suitable for any individual who is considering hormone-based transition, newly started, or is established but has questions they would like to bring to a knowledgeable care team. Participants must be age 18 years or older and located in Rhode Island at the time of the event. This event is free. You do not need to be a patient of Thundermist Health Center to attend. These sessions are intended to provide information only and are not meant to provide individual diagnosis or treatment. Sessions will not be recorded.  RSVP is required online at https://lu.ma/user/that to receive the Zoom link. Have questions? Email transhealth@thundermisthealth.org.