Cross-posted with permission from HealthierHere. A version of this post was originally published to the HealthierHere Blog.
Our network is growing! We are thrilled to share HealthierHere’s announcement that 49 local social service and health organizations have been selected to receive funding from HealthierHere’s Connect2 Community Network Catalyst Fund. The awards will enable the organizations to send and receive electronic closed-loop referrals with other Connect2 Community Network partners via the Unite Us technology.
Background
The Connect2 Community Network is a unified, community-owned and -governed community information exchange (CIE) being collaboratively developed by health and social service organizations in King County, WA.
Based on community feedback, the network has prioritized the ability to send and receive referrals electronically as one of its key functions. HealthierHere, together with Kaiser Permanente, launched the Connect2 Community Network Catalyst Fund to make it possible for organizations to use the Unite Us technology and exchange electronic referrals with Connect2 Community Network partner organizations.
Awards
To grow and strengthen the network, HealthierHere encouraged applications from local social service, community, tribal, physical and behavioral health organizations that are newly interested in using the Unite Us technology, as well as those who recently joined the platform and aim to optimize their usage.
The funding opportunity was also intentionally designed to address gaps and needs identified by our community partners. Organizations eligible for funding provide services in communities that are hard-to-reach or experience health disparities, and they serve a significant portion of Medicaid, low income and/or under- or un-insured community members in King County. We are pleased to share that the Catalyst Fund awardees serve communities across the King County region, and that they include greatly needed supports in areas such as housing, legal services and clinical care.
With this addition of 49 Catalyst Fund awardees, our local network will double in size this year!
Afghan Health Initiative, Arms Around You, Atlantic Street Center, Association of Zambians in Seattle, Washington (AZISWA), Bridging Cultural Gaps, Byrd Barr Place, Catholic Community Services CREW Program, Center for Human Services, Chinese Information and Service Center, Coleman Family Services, Communities in Schools of Kent, Congregations for the Homeless, Consejo Counseling and Referral, Country Doctor, Eastside Legal Assistance Program, FamilyWorks, Gay City, Global to Local, Hepatitis Education Project, Hopelink, International Community Health Services, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, Kin On Health Care Center, Lake City Partners, Living Well Kent, Lutheran Community Services NW, Medical Teams International, NAMI Eastside, Neighborhood House, New Traditions, Peer WA, Peoples Harm Reduction Alliance, Project Access NW, Recovery Café, Refugee Women’s Alliance, Sea Mar, SEIU 775 Benefits Group, Sno-Valley Senior Center, Somali Family Safety Task Force, Somali Health Board, Sound Generations, South King Healthcare Services, Teenagers Plus,, UW Medicine, UW Medicine Kent Des Moines Pediatric, Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation, Villa Comunitaria, World Relief Seattle, YMCA of Greater Seattle
Huge thanks to the Catalyst Fund Selection Committee members for their thoughtful work to evaluate applications and select awardees.
What’s next?
Awardees will partner with HealthierHere and Unite Us to achieve milestones related to network engagement, use and optimization, so that each organization can use the referral technology effectively to assist clients. Participating organizations will also have opportunities to build and strengthen relationships with one another, and they can contribute to shaping the developing regionwide CIE through Connect2 Community Network Partner Workgroup activities.
Learn more & join us
To learn about and engage with the Connect2 Community Network, please see:
If you and/or your organization is interested in getting involved, please reach out to our Community Engagemen Manager, Sully Moreno.