EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva has appointed Laura Jones to the position of senior services director.
Jones, who will work under the direction of the city’s recreation director, will oversee all programs, services and activities pertaining to the East Providence Senior Center. Jones will also be responsible for overseeing the Senior Center facility, managing the Senior Center staff and volunteers and coordinating the multiple Senior Center programs.
“Ms. Jones, who has more than 15 years in human services roles, has extensive knowledge and experience in several health and human services areas,” DaSilva said. “She has big shoes to fill, but as I’ve said in the past, strong leaders require strong successors and I am confident that Ms. Jones has what it takes to advance the center.”
Robert E. “Bob” Rock, current senior center director, will remain in his current role during the transition.
Prior to joining the city of East Providence, Jones held a number of positions with the Rhode Island Parent Information Network Inc. (RIPIN), where some of her key functions included providing oversight on programs on everything from funding and grant writing to training and skill building.
Jones was director of Health Initiatives at RIPIN from 2015 until just recently when she left her post at RIPIN to join the city of East Providence. Prior to being named director, Jones held several other titles including director of health and human services programs, resource specialist for the Office of Special Health Care Needs and medical home program supervisor for the Pediatric Practice Enhancement Project.
Jones is a member of many organizations including the Family Voices Leadership Team, Community Health Workers of Rhode Island Steering Committee and Chronic Disease Stakeholder Team, to name a few.
Jones earned her Bachelor of Sciences in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Rhode Island and has additional training as a certified community health worker.
