Building Bridges: A Case Study on Engaging Clinical and Community Partners to Identify a Common Referral Platform

This case study highlights one example of an Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model participant, or bridge organization, that harnessed community motivation to unite around a common referral platform. United Way of Greater Cleveland (UWGC) is a nonprofit organization operating in Cuyahoga County, Ohio that partners with three health systems and many community-based organizations (CBOs) to address the health-related social needs (HRSNs) of a subset of the local community through screening, community resource referral, and navigation. As a trusted organization, they were able to bring together clinical and community partners, elevate CBO voices, and create future opportunities for continued collaboration around community referral platforms. This case study provides actionable strategies that community organizations and health systems can consider as they collaboratively identify and implement community service referral platforms.