Work

Impacts of Colorado's Regional Health Connector Workforce on Health-Related Social Needs and Health Equity

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: : Background: Workforce roles that address social determinants of health, such as regional health connectors (RHCs), can reduce health inequities that disproportionately affect people of lower socioeconomic status and marginalized communities. Objectives: The aim of this evaluation was to describe, from the perspective of RHCs' community partners, 1) strategies that RHCs employ, 2) social needs that RHCs address, and 3) outcomes associated with RHCs' community efforts. Methods: This convergent mixed-methods evaluation included a cross-sectional statewide survey of Colorado RHC partners followed by interviews with a subset of participants. Descriptive statistics (frequency distributions, proportions, means, standard deviations) were used to summarize survey results. We used a thematic summary approach to qualitatively analyze interviews. Results: Survey participants ( n = 182) were community partners working with RHCs, representing public health (36%), health care (30%) and social services sectors (25%). RHCs most commonly addressed access to care, food security, and housing support. Community partners reported that RHCs impact their organizations by connecting them to new resources, assisting in connecting the people they serve to resources to address social needs, and identifying and/or addressing resource gaps in the community. Survey comments and interviews ( n = 11) illuminated RHCs' involvement in connecting community members and organizations to tailored resources and services. Partners appreciated RHCs' high-level perspective and broad knowledge base. Areas for improvement included organizational change affecting relationship development and processes to connect partners with resources. Conclusions: The Colorado RHC model could help other regions build collaborations and leverage resources and support for health-related social needs to improve community health outcomes.

Source: Progress in community health partnerships

DOI: 10.1353/cpr.2026.a993182

Authors: Tristen L. Hall, Kimberly Wiggins, Douglas H. Fernald, Gillian Grant, Jennifer K. Carroll, W. Perry Dickinson

Language: English

Topic: Community Health and Development

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Funder: National Institutes of Health

Award: Colorado Clinical and Transational Sciences Institute