Now more than ever, providers are seeing the impact of social determinants of health on patient outcomes — but it’s something that most healthcare professionals aren’t trained on how to solve. New CMS health equity requirements will require providers to show how they’re addressing health-related social needs and how they are incorporating that strategy into their work. This requirement represents a huge opportunity to improve patient outcomes at scale but also introduces many open questions on how to do so. 

Here’s the good news – you don’t have to figure it out alone. Join us for a free webinar on how to address patients’ SDoH needs through social care screenings, personalized resources, closed-loop referrals, and robust outcomes tracking. 

During this webinar, you will:

• Understand how to make better use of screening data to address SDoH needs.  
• Learn how other organizations like yours have measured and reported on health equity goals and progress. 
• Gain insight into how to leverage technology tools across the enterprise so that you can focus on what you do best: providing the best possible care to your patients.  
• And more!

The post Screen, Refer, Resolve: A Toolkit for Addressing Patients’ SDOH Needs appeared first on uniteus.com.

Now more than ever, providers are seeing the impact of social determinants of health on patient outcomes — but it’s something that most healthcare professionals aren’t trained on how to solve. New CMS health equity requirements will require providers to show how they’re addressing health-related social needs and how they are incorporating that strategy into their work. This requirement represents a huge opportunity to improve patient outcomes at scale but also introduces many open questions on how to do so.

Here’s the good news – you don’t have to figure it out alone. Join us for a free webinar with Nicole Harris-Hollingsworth, Vice President, Social Determinants of Health at Hackensack Meridian Health, Angela Schubert, Senior Business Analyst at BJC, and Gillian Feldmeth, Director of Research and Evaluation Operations at Unite Us, in a discussion on the benefits of automation and integration when providing whole-person care.

During this webinar, you will:

• Understand how to make better use of screening data to address SDoH needs.
• Learn how other organizations like yours have measured and reported on health equity goals and progress.
• Gain insight into how to leverage technology tools across the enterprise so that you can focus on what you do best: providing the best possible care to your patients.
• And more!

The post Achieving Whole-Person Care with Automation and Integration appeared first on uniteus.com.

County governments are on the frontlines of many of our nation’s most pressing challenges. From natural disasters and economic hardship to the opioid crisis and lingering public health issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, county leaders and workers are managing one crisis after another—and often, managing multiple crises at the same time. In addition to being responsive to these emergent needs, many of America’s 3,000+ counties are responsible for providing their residents with critical services like public safety and child protection. In part because of their sheer volume of responsibilities, counties are leading the way in creating innovative solutions through collaborative partnerships. 

Join Unite Us as we hear from local leaders across the country who have unleashed innovation in government by leveraging technology solutions and community partnerships to address constituents’ health-related social needs and improve service delivery.

In this webinar, we’ll dive into: 

• Success Stories: Discover how county leaders are leveraging technology to improve government services and the health outcomes of their residents.
• The Power of Collaboration: Learn about the partnerships and networks that are driving collective impact beyond county borders.
• Expert Insights: Gain valuable insights and lessons learned from experienced leaders. 

Whether you’re a government official, community leader, or are simply interested in the evolution of public service, you won’t want to miss this important discussion.

The post Local Leaders: Unleashing Innovation in Government appeared first on uniteus.com.

If you grew up amidst a successful generational family business, would you continue with the family business, or strike out on your own? Our guest today did both and lived out the family motto of “create a better life for others.” 

Welcome to this episode of What Unites Us, a podcast about building businesses meant to last. We aim to answer some of the toughest questions about branding, leadership, and success while talking to business trailblazers about their biggest lessons learned. 

Today, we welcome Rachel Kohler, former CEO of NowPow, entrepreneur, and mentor. She tells us about her decision to leave her family’s business, why shared values are important when selling a business, and her thoughts on what creates longevity in a brand. 

In this episode, you will learn: 

• Rachel’s origin story (2:40) 
• Rachel’s career outside the family business (8:49) 
• How Taylor came to acquire NowPow (12:24)
• The importance of shared values when merging two businesses (17:33)
• Rachel’s thoughts on for-profit versus non-profit organizations (24:31)
• What creates longevity of a brand? (27:24)

Connect with Rachel Kohler:
LinkedIn

Want to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. 

Share this podcast!

Episode Credits:
Produced by Ginni Media and Unite Us
Original music by Starling Studios

Copyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved
All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.

The post When 1+1=10: A Conversation with Rachel Kohler, Kohler Co., NowPow appeared first on uniteus.com.

Do you think everyone can be a leader? What qualities do you think good leaders should possess? Courage? Work Ethic? Integrity? These, plus many more, help shape the leaders of today’s business world, and in turn, shape the way businesses operate. 

Welcome to this episode of What Unites Us, a podcast about building businesses meant to last. We aim to answer some of the toughest questions about branding, leadership, and success while talking to business trailblazers about their biggest lessons learned. 

Today, we’re welcoming Sam Allen, a Veteran and Salesforce executive. Sam is sharing with us why courage is extremely important in leaders, why he worked on becoming more empathetic, the unconscious biases that many businesses have, and so much more. 

In this episode, you will learn: 

• Sam shares his origin story (3:48) 
• How adverse situations helped shape Sam in his post-military professional life (13:03) 
• Why Sam thinks courage is a very important trait that leaders should have (17:59) 
• Why Sam believes it’s important to invest in the people on his teams and how it affects the growth of Salesforce (24:04) 
• How unconscious bias hinders companies (32:41) 
• The differences between working at a large corporation and starting your own business (36:26) 
• What Sam thinks makes Salesforce the company that it is (44:49) 

Connect with Sam Allen:

• LinkedIn
• Salesforce on LinkedIn 

Want to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out on the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. 

Episode Credits:
Produced by Ginni Media and Unite Us
Original music by Starling Studios

Copyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved
All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.

The post Courage in Business: A Conversation with Sam Allen, Salesforce appeared first on uniteus.com.

Our Power in Partnership series highlights our national and regional partners and the work they do to build healthier communities.

Tell us about your organization.

Through the Trees is a nonprofit that was founded in 2020 to bridge the digital divide in Transylvania County, North Carolina. The pandemic affected our community significantly. Families with children enrolled in school suddenly had to pivot and educate their children at home virtually. With only limited access to technology and the Internet, many families struggled.

How would you explain the digital divide and why bridging it should be a top priority for state, local, and federal governments?

The digital divide disproportionately affects low-income families, rural communities, and marginalized groups, and it has become increasingly pronounced during the pandemic as more aspects of daily life move online.

Lack of access has significant ramifications on health and education. It is crucial that funding and resources help close this gap and ensure all members of society have equal access. Doing so will not only benefit individuals and families, but also lead to stronger and more prosperous communities and economies.

What are the main programs or offerings that Through the Trees provides? How has this expanded or evolved over time?

Our main focus is on providing Internet connectivity and devices to low-income households. We assess their current Internet options and what devices they are using. We help households apply to the Affordable Connectivity Program, which can provide a $30 discount on their monthly Internet bill. Our electronic refurbishing program allows us to match donated devices to individuals as needed.

As our organization has evolved, we have expanded our offerings to include ongoing support through digital literacy programs. We recognize that access to technology is just the first step in bridging the digital divide, and that ongoing education and support is critical to ensuring individuals and families can fully utilize the technology available to them. Through digital literacy programs, we provide training on topics such as online safety, basic computer skills, and job search and resume building. Our goal is to empower individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to fully participate in our increasingly digital world.

What was your experience like getting funding for Internet subsidies for the people that you serve? Were there any challenges or lessons learned that you could share?

The very first services we offered were Internet subsidies. Our program eased the burden of paying for the Internet at home. Through private donations and funding from Lake Toxaway Charities and Smart Start of Transylvania County, we paid $35 for six months.

Before the pandemic, many folks were getting by with free Internet access in town and did not have the financial resources to pay for it at home. In our county, the main Internet provider cost $75 a month. In our first year of operation, the only Internet subsidy program was Lifeline. This federal government program paid $9 a month directly to the service provider. Individuals had to get approved and apply this discount by going to the provider’s office in person. Having no way to do it online, this benefit was not used much at all.

We coupled our subsidy program with Lifeline to help bring their monthly bill down by nearly $45 per month.

When the government offered the Emergency Broadband Benefit in spring of 2021, our local provider was not a participant. They ended up applying and by September of that year, we were able to pivot and help folks apply to that service before offering ours. The EBB paid $50 a month towards Internet bills, allowing us to reserve our Internet subsidy funding for people who still could not be approved. This mainly affected households where the adults were not U.S. citizens. Providing a Social Security Number was a requirement for the EBB. Being able to pivot and staying up to date with the Broadband expansion community helped us support many households on a shoestring budget in our first year.

Through the Trees recently started working with formerly incarcerated people who are reentering society. Can you tell us more about this program?

A woman that we helped in our first year of operation has become a change agent for United Way. This year, she started referring reentry clients to us. Through Internet subsidies and donated devices, we are giving these individuals the tools they need to be successful. It’s a full-circle moment and we love seeing those ripple effects of support.

How does collaborating with community-based organizations play a role in your work?

The Unite Us Platform allows us to receive referrals from other agencies in and out of the country. The Emergency Broadband Benefit transitioned to the Affordable Connectivity Program in spring of 2022. We have been a part of this great platform for a year now. What we love about these out-of-town referrals and the federal Internet subsidy program is that we are no longer restricted by the boundaries of Transylvania County. We have officially changed our mission statement to “Connecting the Community through Technology,” and we can accept referrals from anywhere.

Why did you choose to partner with Unite Us? How has working with Unite Us impacted the work that you do?

Through the Trees chose to partner with Unite Us because they have a platform that helps streamline the referral process for social services in our community. We recognized that many of the people we serve may need additional support beyond Internet access and devices, and Unite Us provides a way for us to easily refer individuals to other organizations for services such as healthcare, food assistance, and housing.

Working with Unite Us has allowed us to provide a more comprehensive approach to helping people in our community. By collaborating with other organizations, we can ensure that the people we serve are getting the support they need to thrive. Unite Us has also provided us with a way to track our referrals and see the impact of our work in real time.

What’s next for Through the Trees?

Through the Trees has a number of exciting initiatives planned for the future. We are thrilled to be opening our Upcycle Tech thrift store, which will be a valuable resource for our community. With the thrift store, we aim to help people refurbish their devices and make technology more accessible to those who might not be able to afford it otherwise. This will allow us to continue providing devices to more people in our community and reduce the number of electronics that end up in landfills.

We are also considering hosting a conference that will focus on helping educators in our area learn about ways that AI can impact their teaching. The conference will provide an opportunity for educators to learn about new tools and techniques they can use to enhance their students’ learning experiences.

Lastly, we are looking to expand our work in the community, which includes exploring new partnerships with local organizations and expanding the services we offer. Our goal is to continue to bridge the digital divide in Transylvania County and ensure everyone has access to the technology they need to thrive in the digital age.

For more information about Through the Trees, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or visit our website. You can also come to our shop, Upcycle Tech, located at 470 Asheville Hwy, Suite B, Brevard, NC 28712. We look forward to meeting you.

Collaborative Partnership

It is partnerships like these that enable Unite Us to work collaboratively with community partners across the country to connect individuals to the services they need when they need them most. Our national network includes a wide range of utilities organizations and programs that can offer support for home energy, Internet access, and utility bill payment. To learn more about how Unite Us can help organizations proactively identify and address their community’s needs with a data-driven approach, read our blog on connecting utility customers to social care.

Learn more about how to bring Unite Us to your organization: 

Get in Touch

The post Power in Partnership: Through the Trees appeared first on uniteus.com.

Most of us know (or are) someone who has struggled. Those that struggle sometimes just need someone to show them the way out. Can a non-profit build on the idea that offering skills is that way out last for generations? Today’s guest says yes. 

Welcome to this episode of What Unites Us, a podcast about building businesses meant to last. We aim to answer some of the toughest questions about branding, leadership, and success while talking to business trailblazers about their biggest lessons learned. 

Today, we welcome Steven Preston, President and CEO of Goodwill. Steven shares with us his origin story, how his goals aligned with the mission of Goodwill, and the importance of technology for Goodwill’s vision. 

In this episode, you will learn:

• Steven’s origin story (2:10)
• How Steven became the CEO of Goodwill (11:28)
• The mission of Goodwill (15:47)
• The importance of technology to Goodwill’s vision (20:59)
• Steven answers ‘what creates an enduring brand?’ (29:39)

Connect with Steven Preston:
LinkedIn

Want to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. 

Episode Credits:
Produced by Ginni Media and Unite Us
Original music by Starling Studios

Copyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved
All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.

The post Committed to Change: A Conversation with Steven Preston, Goodwill appeared first on uniteus.com.

We believe that prioritizing the privacy and dignity of individuals seeking care is fundamental to the mission we share with our partners across communities. To that end, we’re sharing our vision of the rights we believe all individuals should have with respect to their social care information—and how all partners in this work can advance our shared goals to enable secure and seamless access to care. 

Unite Us has built our solution to center our core principles of privacy and dignity and these five fundamental rights for every person seeking care. Our platform features a robust consent process that is centered around the person seeking care. The consent form is translated into over forty languages and available in multiple formats to promote accessibility. We designed this consent model to protect client privacy and alleviate the challenges people face when seeking services. When accessing services through providers coordinating through our platform, individuals have the right to know what information is collected from their providers, the right to consent to the sharing of their information, the right to correct their information, the right to revoke consent to sharing their information, and the right to delete their information. 

In addition to these fundamental rights, individuals seeking care should trust that their information will be protected and secure. At Unite Us, we protect all social care information as though it were protected health information, employing the same security measures required by HIPAA for all data on our platform, regardless of where it originates. We also provide heightened protections for information subject to 42 CFR Part 2 and other federal and state protections, enabling providers that have historically been siloed to collaborate with their partners and improve outcomes. Our partners have welcomed this opportunity to securely connect across sectors: 

“Normally, we are not able to use any other platforms because they could jeopardize the safety of survivors of gender-based violence. Not being able to receive and make referrals through other platforms kept us siloed. This is the first community-based referral connector system that we’ve ever seen that would meet our qualifications and ensure survivor safety. Unite Us worked closely with us to ensure that this platform could work for our population. This partnership creates more referral pathways for healthcare and other community-based organizations to connect survivors to our services that might not have otherwise been referred.” – Executive Director of a Community Provider Serving Survivors of Domestic and Interpersonal Violence in Oregon

By providing the technology and resources to support secure coordination across sectors, we alleviate the burdens imposed on resource-constrained providers serving our communities. 

When we develop new features for our solutions, we always take into account community feedback to ensure that the individuals in need of care and community partners serving them are heard. We listen to our community partners to reflect our shared vision to promote seamless access to care that centers the individual. As one community partner shared: 

“Unite Us has successfully and easily linked families with whom I work and resources specific for their needs. I recently had a family with a variety of needs. The mother and her two children were living in a car but were able to get a home through a community program. Unfortunately, they did not have any furniture, lighting, clothing, or household goods. The mother was also interested in assistance in obtaining childcare and a job. The mother agreed to me entering her information into the Unite Us Platform. It took about five minutes or so. The mother was sent a text message from the program, where she had to give electronic permission for Unite Us to disseminate her information to the resources I had chosen. Within 24 hours, she was linked to a potential employer, financial resources, and community resources to meet their concrete needs. The mother has been so grateful for the resources and assistance.” – Social Worker in West Virginia

These five fundamental rights—coupled with solutions that protect social care information under the same strict protections required for protected health information—protect individuals’ privacy and help ensure that their social care needs are addressed. 

Get in Touch

The post How Unite Us Advances Privacy and Dignity for Individuals Seeking Care appeared first on uniteus.com.