If you live on Aquidneck Island, and Middletown in particular, Rhode Island Voices would like you to lend your voice to public affairs surveys on building stronger and healthier communities.
Rhode Island Voices, a partnership between Brown University School of Public Health and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, seeks to boost participation in under-represented communities to ensure voices from across the state are heard.
Participants are asked to participate in three to four short online surveys throughout the year. Surveys are confidential and take just 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Participants will be compensated up to $25 a year to thank them for contributing to this public service research.
Surveys will address such topics as quality of community, job opportunities, housing, and food access, among others. Respondents will have the opportunity to share their experiences and insights and offer views on ways to achieve healthier communities.
Launched in 2024, Rhode Island Voces seeks to enlist up to 1,000 Rhode Islanders, with substantial representation from all cities and towns. Recruitment of participants is continuing, with a concerted focus on increasing participation on Aquidneck Island, especially Middletown.
Rhode Island Voices grew out of the RI Life Index, which for the past six years has conducted an annual randomized phone survey that explores Rhode Islanders perceptions of a range of social factors that impact their health and well-being. To enhance that research, the creators of the Index – Blue Cross and Brown University — launched Rhode Island Voices to take a deeper dive into learning about the lived experiences of Rhode Islanders.
A panel survey is a longitudinal project that measures the perceptions and experiences of individuals over time. Because panel surveys benefit from individuals who agree to participate in multiple questionnaires, topics can be asked of the group in more depth compared to a one-time survey. In addition, by collecting data at multiple points in time, patterns of change can be observed on specific topics among the same individuals.
The following organizations have partnered with BCBSRI and Brown on Rhode Island Voices: Family Service RI, OneCranston HEZ, Center for Southeast Asians, Cape Verdean American Community Development, and Progreso Latino.
For more information on Rhode Island Voices or to volunteer on the survey panel, visit rilifeindex.org/rivoices.
