Community Health Workers - Making a Difference in the Northern RI Community
Making a Difference in the Northern RI Community
As we celebrate the success and growth of the Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce, we connected with Dakota Gadson, a CHW at Connecting for Children and Families, who is dedicated to serving Woonsocket and northern Rhode Island by providing community-centered support for families navigating the healthcare system and beyond.
As a Community Health Worker, how have you been able to support and strengthen the impact of primary care for Rhode Islanders? One of the key ways I’ve strengthened the impact of primary care is by building trusting relationships with the individuals and families in the community I serve. By meeting people where they are, I’ve been able to better understand the barriers they face—such as lack of transportation, language differences, or food insecurity. This insight allows me to connect them with the right resources, whether that’s scheduling appointments, arranging transportation, or helping them navigate insurance and social services.
The recent CHW Summit spotlighted the successes of the CHW community. What have been some of your biggest successes? One of my most meaningful successes as a Community Health Worker has come through our collaboration with the Department of Human Services (DHS). Together, we’ve connected families with essential financial assistance, particularly those struggling to maintain stable housing.
A story that stands out is that of a single mother of a high school senior who was facing severe challenges. After a serious accident, her health limited her ability to work, leaving her overwhelmed by debt, instability, and the stress of trying to provide a safe home environment for her son during such a critical time in his education.
Through our support and coordination with DHS, we helped her access housing stabilization assistance, along with food support and guidance on how to grow her business. With that safety net in place, she was able to focus on rebuilding—not just financially, but personally. She’s now paying down her debt, expanding her business slowly and sustainably, and most importantly, providing her son with a secure home where he can finish high school with stability and pride.
What are some important lessons you've learned through collaboration with the broader CHW and primary care community? One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is the power of developing an abundance mindset. In a field where resources often feel scarce and the needs are great, it’s easy to fall into a mindset of competition or burnout. But I’ve found that when we lead with the belief that there is enough knowledge, support, and opportunity to go around—it changes everything. It creates space for collaboration instead of competition and encourages us to share openly, lift one another up, and celebrate each other’s wins as community victories.
Another important lesson is the value of being transparent about challenges and disappointments. Too often, we only highlight success, but being honest about obstacles—whether it’s struggling to engage a client, dealing with system-level barriers, or simply feeling overwhelmed—fosters deeper trust among colleagues and partners. It reminds us that we’re all human, and it opens the door for collective problem-solving, support, and learning.
We are deeply grateful to Dakota and to all Community Health Workers who continue to make an extraordinary difference in the lives of individuals and families across Rhode Island.