What is Care Connect?
Care Connect is a low-barrier program that offers care coordination services to all King County residents who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. HealthierHere contracts with local community-based organizations to provide direct care coordination services, with referrals processed and assigned via the HealthierHere Community Hub.
What is the purpose of Care Connect and the HealthierHere Community Hub?
The Care Connect program aims to mitigate the health, economic, and social effects COVID-19 has on communities, particularly those disproportionately impacted and historically marginalized. The HealthierHere Community Hub works with our Care Coordination Agencies to advance the goal of an equitable, low-barrier, ‘no-wrong door’ approach to care coordination, providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services and support.
Who is eligible to receive services?
Eligibility for Care Connect Washington services in King County is very broad. Any King County resident who has felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and could use support from a Care Coordinator to help connect to health and/or social services is eligible to participate.
The program would be most beneficial for individuals and families who are struggling to recover from the effects of the pandemic. Examples could include but are not limited to:
· Long COVID
· Behavioral health concerns due to deaths of family and friends during the pandemic
· General malaise due to the societal disruption of the pandemic
· Concerns about school-age children experiencing learning loss and/or screen time addiction
· Loss of employment
· Immunocompromised individuals concerned that restrictions have been lifted but they are still at risk
· Loss of fitness or weight gain due to lingering COVID fatigue
· Difficulty affording basic necessities (housing, groceries, utilities) due to inflation
If you know of community members who could benefit from care coordination support, we encourage you to refer them to the HealthierHere Community Hub. We accept referrals from all community-based and health care organizations that would like to connect community members to our services.
What is a Care Coordination Agency (CCA)?
CCAs are local community-based organizations (CBOs) contracted with the HealthierHere Community Hub to provide Care Connect Washington services. CCAs employ community-based workers like Care Coordinators, Community Health Workers, and Navigators who work directly with clients and provide care coordination support, system navigation, health education, and coaching. CCAs all use the same online platform to document their work (Care Coordination Systems, CCS) and receive referrals, training, funding, coaching, and support from the HealthierHere Community Hub.
If I refer a client to Care Connect, how do they get access to services?
Care Connect will refer your client to one of the community-based Care Coordination Agencies (CCAs) that have contracted with the HealthierHere Community Hub. CCAs connect clients to a range of community-based services depending on specific needs, program eligibility and availability, and client goals. Community-based services include but are not limited to food access, childcare, utility support, clothing, employment, transportation, financial support, housing, education, transportation, social connection, programs for seniors, health insurance, primary care, dental, behavioral health, vision, and more.
Can I follow up to see if a community member my organization referred has received services?
The HealthierHere Community Hub and our network of Care Coordinators keep client information confidential and only share information with service providers when a client has given explicit permission to do so. If you have submitted a referral please contact your client directly to see if they have enrolled in our services. If your client would like their Care Coordinator to work with you or someone else at your agency, we can add those individuals as care team members, once appropriate permission is in place.
How can my organization become part of the Care Connect referral network (to be able to receive referrals from the CCAs)?
Our Care Coordinators can refer to any organization in King County that offers services that their client is interested in and eligible for. If you would like to connect with the Community Hub to provide more information about what your organization offers, please email careconnect@healthierhere.org.
What is HealthierHere’s role?
HealthierHere serves as the Community Hub for the Care Connect Washington program in King County. Department of Health (DOH) has contracted with HealthierHere to play this role. As the Community Hub, HealthierHere is responsible for managing a network of CCAs and managing all referrals for King County. HealthierHere processes referrals and assigns clients to the most appropriate Care Coordinator or CCA based on the needs and background of the client. HealthierHere onboards all CCAs and provides regular support to all CCA staff, including training, regular meetings and convenings, documentation support, and data governance.
Where does funding for Care Connect come from?
Care Connect Washington is funded by the Washington State Department of Health via federal funds. The fiscal year 2023-2024 is the last year Care Connect funding will be available.
How has Care Connect Changed?
Care Connect Washington was originally created in 2020 to provide direct support to individuals and families who had tested positive for COVID and needed extra support to be able to isolate safely at home. In addition to support from a Care Coordinator, HealthierHere and other regional Hubs were able to provide direct assistance to community members like free grocery delivery orders, financial assistance, and care kits with soap, sanitizer, thermometers, and masks.
As of July 1, 2023, the program has changed due to the end of the public health emergency, funding limitations, and changing community needs. Now Care Connect Washington is focused on COVID recovery rather than isolation and quarantine support. Direct services like grocery delivery orders, financial assistance, and care kits are no longer available through Care Connect Washington in King County.
Instead, Care Connect provides clients with a Care Coordinator who works to connect them with services they may need to reach their goals, but those services are not guaranteed. In addition to resource navigation and referrals, current program benefits include health education, coaching, goal setting, action planning, and system navigation. Care Coordinators work with clients over a longer period of time (3-6 months) and check in regularly to help clients achieve their goals.