Justice Assistance Opens Health & Wellness Center, Providing Wraparound Health Services
Justice Assistance CEO Jake Bissaillon (left) with Papitto Opportunity Connection Founder and Trustee Barbara Papitto (right).
Cranston, R.I. – Justice Assistance officially opened JA Health & Wellness (JA H&W), an integrated health clinic, to the community. A continuation of Justice Assistance’s mission to provide innovative and effective restoration services for justice-involved individuals, the center provides physical, mental, and dental health services.
As of June 2026, 62% of all Justice Assistance clients require some kind of physical or mental health and/or substance use treatment. Since treating its first patient for integrated care in July 2025, JA H&W has provided nearly 2,000 appointments in the areas of behavioral health counseling, substance use treatment, wellness services, dental care, and primary care. Helping clients under one roof addresses the interconnected barriers that can stand in the way of stability and long-term success. JA Health & Wellness is centrally located in the same building as their main office where they also provide employment, education, and life-skill development resources for clients.
“Navigating healthcare in today’s society is difficult for almost everyone. The people we serve face the same healthcare needs and life challenges as the broader community, but too often without consistent care, stable housing, reliable transportation, or the support systems that keep difficult circumstances from becoming crises,” said Justice Assistance CEO Jake Bissaillon. “JA Health & Wellness was created because healthcare must be part of the continuum of care if we are serious about helping people rebuild their lives. This center allows us to meet people where they are, make integrated care easier to access, and connect healthcare to the broader supports Justice Assistance provides — from alternatives to sentencing, to reentry, to housing, to long-term stability.”
Research shows that justice-involved individuals often face significant unmet health needs, including behavioral health and substance use challenges, along with barriers related to poverty, housing instability, transportation, insurance coverage, and stigma. In Rhode Island, where the primary care system is already under significant strain, accessible healthcare is a critical component of successful reentry and long-term stability.
“Not being able to access healthcare is a social determinant of health and an institutional barrier for justice-involved individuals seeking success in the workforce and in education,” said JA Health & Wellness Clinical Director Frances DaLomba. “Our clinic chips away at that barrier by providing comprehensive care and giving individuals the opportunity to reclaim and rebuild their lives.”
The clinic is open to current Justice Assistance clients who have been referred by the justice system, formerly incarcerated or justice-involved individuals, adult family members of those impacted by the justice system, and victims of crime. Priority appointments are reserved for justice-involved individuals. Services include:
Health Insurance Enrollment
Certified Community Healthcare Worker/Peer Recovery Support
Behavioral Health and Mental Health Counseling
Substance Use Counseling
Primary Medical Care
Specialist Referral
JA H&W is the latest program under Justice Assistance’s umbrella. JA also operates court programs including Project Victim Services and Project Restitution, where four court-based case managers help more than 2,000 individuals navigate the criminal justice system annually. With support from the RI Bar Foundation, the agency now also provides legal services within its court-based programs, which serve more than 500 individuals per year.
JA also operates Habitat for Justice, providing housing and workforce development opportunities for justice-involved individuals who are otherwise unable to find secure long-term housing solutions. The portfolio of 33 low-moderate income apartments is 100 percent occupied.
JA’s growth, including the addition of Habitat for Justice and JA Health & Wellness, would not be possible without the support of their generous donors, including the Papitto Opportunity Connection. On Monday, JA Health and Wellness was dedicated to founding Papitto Opportunity Connection partner Barbara Papitto and managing trustee John Tarantino, who began his professional career at Justice Assistance prior to enrolling in law school.
"Access to healthcare isn't a privilege, it's a foundation for rebuilding a life. We are proud to stand with Justice Assistance in opening doors to physical, mental, and dental care for people who are working hard to move forward," said Barbara Papitto, founder and trustee of Papitto Opportunity Connection. "This is the kind of investment that creates real, lasting change not just for individuals, but for our entire community."
From Left: JA Founder Jon Houston, JA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael McCarten, Papitto Opportunity Connection Founder and Trustee Barbara Papitto, JA CEO Jake Bissaillon, JA Health & Wellness Clinical Director Frances DaLomba, Congressman Gabe Amo, and R.I. General Treasurer James Diossa.
About Justice Assistance:
Founded in 1978, Justice Assistance provides wraparound services for justice-involved individuals across Rhode Island, including court-based case management, reentry support, affordable housing, legal support services, and integrated behavioral and primary healthcare. Over the past several years, the organization has launched JA Health & Wellness, an integrated primary and behavioral health clinic in Cranston, and expanded its Habitat for Justice program to include more than 30 units of affordable housing. Together, these efforts reflect Justice Assistance’s mission to promote dignity, restore opportunity, and build pathways to stability for Rhode Islanders.
JA H&W will treat each client regardless of their financial abilities; assisting clients with obtaining Medicaid and/or Medicare while providing them with the services they need. JA H&W is currently accepting new clients at justiceassistance.org/ja-health-wellness.
About Papitto Opportunity Connection:
The Papitto Opportunity Connection (POC) is a non-profit private foundation dedicated to listening and working together with Rhode Island’s communities in need to empower and create systemic change by investing in education, job skills training, health care and entrepreneurship. Established in December 2020, POC has invested more than $130 million to support programs that provide crucial services that uplift Rhode Island’s communities in need. Learn more at POCFoundation.com.
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