National award annually honors one employee who has gone above and beyond to support and fulfill needs in their community.
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) today presented Tanitra Adekeye of Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (Neighborhood) with the organization’s 2024 Making a Difference Award. The national recognition honors an employee of an ACAP member plan who goes above and beyond in their responsibilities to improve and fulfill needs in their community and support underserved members.
Ms. Adekeye serves as Neighborhood’s Lead Community Care Coordinator, where she conducts community, provider, and home visits to assess and coordinate care for Neighborhood members. One outstanding aspect of Ms. Adekeye’s work is as a contributor to Rhode Island’s Katie Becket Waiver Case Management Program, which supports children (and their families) with long-term disabilities or complex medical needs in becoming eligible for Medicaid coverage. Ms. Adekeye has successfully managed more than 120 cases in a 90-day time frame – an example of her outstanding dedication to connecting members with the support and services they need.
Ms. Adekeye’s Making a Difference recognition stems partly from one such case last year. During that time, she worked tirelessly to coordinate care for a critically ill young member, including setting up transportation and a car seat to increase the family’s access to healthcare services. Her approach not only resolved the situation but also elevated it to a documented best practice at Neighborhood, demonstrating the tangible impact of her work on the community.
“Tanitra is an invaluable member of the Neighborhood team,” said Peter Marino, Neighborhood’s President and CEO. “It’s clear that Tanitra exemplifies the very mission and passion on which our organization was founded 30 years ago. Her ability to build authentic relationships and achieve measurable results has improved lives, particularly of children and youth. We celebrate Tanitra’s accomplishments and thank her for her important work for our members and community.”
Alongside to her day-to-day responsibilities, Ms. Adekeye also serves as Neighborhood’s liaison for the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), where she connects youth members with behavioral health services, facilitates referrals for home care services, and bridges the gap between Neighborhood staff and DCYF workers. She is also heavily involved in the Ryan White Outreach Program, which provides outpatient health services, housing support, and more for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
“I have a hard time finding the right words to describe my feelings as a recipient of ACAP’s 2024 Making A Difference Award,” said Ms. Adekeye. “Over the years, I have realized that this role has evolved beyond a job – it is an opportunity to give a voice to the voiceless and, most importantly, to improve the quality of life for individuals and families when they need it most. It is my honor to be recognized for positively impacting my community, professionally and personally, and do so at an organization whose work and values I proudly stand for.”
“Ms. Adekeye’s achievements are what the Making a Difference Award is all about,” said ACAP CEO Meg Murray. “Her drive to go above and beyond to support individuals in receiving the complex care they need are the very qualities that ensure Safety Net Health Plans like Neighborhood stand out as community-focused and mission-driven. People like Ms. Adekeye are an inspiration to us all.”
In addition to her work at Neighborhood over the past 10 years, Ms. Adekeye also works part-time as a medical assistant at a pediatric urgent care center and is a full-time student pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business administration and healthcare management. She says that growing up in a community where DCYF involvement was prevalent and her personal experiences with DCYF intervention continue to guide her in her decision-making and professional practice.
In honor of Ms. Adekeye’s award, ACAP will donate $1,000 on her behalf to a local nonprofit of her choice. She chose Providence-based SISTA Fire to support its work focused on maternal health within BIPOC communities. Working alongside other community-based organizations, elements of SISTA Fire’s work culminated in enacting the RI Doula Reimbursement Act in July 2021. ACAP’s donation will help support SISTA Fire’s mission to unite women and nonbinary people of color to “build deep solidarity across differences, strengthen community connections, and create change in our lives and communities.”
The Making a Difference Award was presented to Ms. Adekeye during a surprise event on June 6, 2024, at Neighborhood’s offices in Smithfield, R.I., including family members and her peers. Learn more about the ACAP Making a Difference Award here.
About ACAP:
ACAP represents 81 health plans, which collectively provide health coverage to more than 25 million people. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other publicly-sponsored health programs. For more information, visit communityplans.net.
About Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island:
Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (Neighborhood) is a not-for-profit health maintenance organization (HMO) founded in December 1993 in partnership with Rhode Island’s Community Health Centers and the state to ensure everyone in Rhode Island has access to high quality, cost-effective health care. Neighborhood serves over 220,000 members in the state with 82 percent of its membership Medicaid eligible through its ACCESS and TRUST plans and 6 percent of its membership utilizing Neighborhood’s INTEGRITY Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP). More than 12 percent of Neighborhood’s members represents individuals, families and small businesses who select one of 15 Neighborhood commercial plans available through the health exchange, HealthSource RI. Of these members, about 85 percent qualify for federal subsidies to cover a portion of their costs. Today, Neighborhood—with nearly 650 employees and $1.8 billion in revenue—serves one out of every five Rhode Islanders. Learn more at nhpri.org.
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