Improving Health Outcomes for Vulnerable Populations through Innovative Partnerships with a Focus on Social Determinants of Health

Format

Poster Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

WellCare Health Plans, Inc.

Second Presenter's Institution

N/A

Third Presenter's Institution

N/A

Fourth Presenter's Institution

N/A

Fifth Presenter's Institution

N/A

Strand #1

Family & Community

Relevance

Innovative and non-traditional Community partnerships are increasingly important in addressing community health issues educational equity and holistic well-being for vulnerable populations in the new era. Using Community-based Research Methods and Community Health Needs Assessment tools, a Care Management organization introduced a CommUnity Advocacy function within its market operations to launch local community planning such as youth development and mobilizing efforts to track opportunity gaps designed to quantify and sustain the Social Safety Net.

Brief Program Description

The HealthConnections model demonstrates the impact of bringing together community stakeholders including care management organizations, community and faith based programs, non-profits, and educational institutions in creative ways to affect positive health outcomes for populations living in poverty, seniors and people with disabilities. Using a model that combines research, and mobilizing strategies, participants will learn how to utilize and maximize the social service resources in their communities.

Summary

Innovative and non-traditional partnerships are increasingly important in addressing community health issues for vulnerable populations in the new era. Using Community-based Research Methods and Community Health Needs Assessment tools, a Managed Care Organization introduced a CommUnity Advocacy function within its market operations to launch local community planning and mobilizing efforts designed to quantify and sustain the Social Safety Net. The HealthConnections model demonstrates the impact of bringing together community stakeholders including managed care organizations, community based programs, non-profits, faith-based programs and educational institutions in creative ways to affect positive health outcomes for populations living in poverty, seniors and people with disabilities. Using a model that combines research, community advocacy, and traditional community mobilizing strategies and a sophisticated technological gap-tracking system, participants will learn how to utilize, maximize, and expand upon the social service resources in their local communities. The model identifies gaps in the Social Safety Net and collaborates with key stakeholders to fill those gaps. The model has four key components, including Community-based health and wellness events; Community planning councils focused on sustaining the Social Safety Net; Facilitation of member connections to social services and bridging gaps in availability; And grants for program innovation. Evaluation partnerships with educational institutions such as Emory University and Mercer University demonstrate the effectiveness of the HealthConnections model to address healthcare gaps for underserved populations.

Evidence

Research Methods

Using Community-based Research Methods (CBRMs) and Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) tools, WellCare introduced a CommUnity Advocacy function within its market operations to launch local community planning and mobilizing efforts designed to quantify the impact of the Social Safety Net.

Data Collection: Qualitative

WellCare completed in-depth interviews and focus groups to collect qualitative data using Healthy Environments Partnership tools promoted through the American Public Health Association and others. In addition, survey feedback was collected through individual CommUnity Health Investment Programs. And, WellCare built continuous feedback mechanisms into the HealthConnections Council management process.

Data Collection: Quantitative

WellCare captures referrals to social services as well as network gap information when a referral is attempted but a service is unavailable but then filled through mobilizing.

Measures

2016 HealthConnections Metrics:

CommUnity Activities

• 9,500 total activities reaching more than 2.5 million stakeholders in 9 states

• 160,000+ community stakeholders in support of the HealthConnections Model across and within all 50 states

HealthConnections Councils

• Hosted 17 councils resulting in more than 10 pilots representing 1,000+ hours of community planning / investment

Social Service Utilization Support

• Referred 17,000+ people to 48,000 community-based programs and services

• Bridged 1,200+ gaps in needed social services using traditional community mobilizing methods and research

• Expanded the CommUnity Assistance Line

CommUnity Health Investment Programs

• Invested $750,000+ into community programs and services based on CBRM and CHNA evaluation as well as analysis of referral and gap data from Social Service Utilization Support Services

Biographical Sketch

Gregory has over 18 years of experience in building community and corporate partnerships, fundraising, public relations and volunteer management. He has a history of building long lasting relationships with community partners such as schools, faith based organizations, and non-profit organizations. Gregory retired from United States Air Force where he spent 21 years in the Human Resources arena. Social Services has been Gregory’s second career; where he has a total of five years of working directly with case managers to assist with finding creative ways to fill gaps within the community. At WellCare, he has served as a community relations specialist, and is currently serving in his third year as a community advocate with WellCare’s new program, Health Connections Model. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors for both the Effingham Family Connection Commission and the Effingham County Victim Witness Assistance Program, Inc.

Keyword Descriptors

Community Partnerships, Community Advocacy, Social Services, Community Based Programs, Community Mobilizing Strategies, Community Planning Councils, GAPs, Underserved Populations, Grants, Social Safety Net

Presentation Year

2018

Start Date

3-6-2018 4:00 PM

End Date

3-6-2018 5:30 PM

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Improving Health Outcomes for Vulnerable Populations through Innovative Partnerships with a Focus on Social Determinants of Health

The HealthConnections model demonstrates the impact of bringing together community stakeholders including care management organizations, community and faith based programs, non-profits, and educational institutions in creative ways to affect positive health outcomes for populations living in poverty, seniors and people with disabilities. Using a model that combines research, and mobilizing strategies, participants will learn how to utilize and maximize the social service resources in their communities.