Community Resource Hub Launch

02.01.2018 Atrium Health News

New tool offers Charlotte-area community members the ability to search available free or reduced-cost social services 

CHARLOTTE, NC, January 31, 2018 – Carolinas HealthCare System launched its Community Resource Hub today. The Community Resource Hub will serve as a search, referral and application tool to help Charlotte community members locate free or reduced-cost social service programs. With this new tool, Carolinas HealthCare System aims to extend care outside of doctors' offices and provide better access to services that reduce healthcare barriers. 

The Community Resource Hub connects Carolinas HealthCare System providers, social workers and individuals in the Charlotte area to organizations that offer key social services, including legal assistance, transportation, housing and food. It allows users to choose from thousands of available resources anyone can access – from local to national programs.

"The Carolinas HealthCare System Community Resource Hub helps ensure Charlotte-area residents and patients have the ability to access available resources and receive the assistance they need in a seamless, efficient manner," said Alisahah Cole, MD, vice president and medical director for community health at Carolinas HealthCare System. "As we strive to advance wellness and healthy well-being in our community, our Community Resource Hub will provide tremendous value and serve as the go-to source for community members who may not have otherwise known these services existed right here at home."

The Community Resource Hub quickly populates facilities and programs that meet individualized needs to help users make more informed decisions without needing to search multiple websites. Any individual may search the hub on their own and can easily navigate the platform by category or keyword to identify programs that meet their needs. For example, the user can select “transportation” to see available programs that provide transportation to schools or hospitals, or help pay for transit depending on their need. Users may also narrow results by eligibility criteria, such as income, age or family size. Once a program has been selected, the Community Resource Hub provides the next steps to take, as well as a detailed description of the program, hours of operation, location details and contact information. 

For the launch of the Community Resource Hub, Carolinas HealthCare System is initially partnering with 15 Charlotte-area organizations, allowing partners and providers to refer users to facilities and programs that meet individualized needs. Once a referral is made, information is automatically sent to the user and the selected agency to proactively connect the user in need.

“We are thrilled to partner with Carolinas HealthCare System on this new Community Resource Hub,” said Loaves & Fishes Executive Director Tina Postel. “At Loaves & Fishes, our goal is to provide nutritionally balanced groceries to our neighbors in need. Those facing economic hardships and crisis situations often don’t have the time to properly navigate what can be a confusing system of services and assistance. It’s our hope for the Community Resource Hub to serve as that immediate lifeline for those in need, and Loaves & Fishes is proud to be a part of it.”

For more information and to search available programs, visit the Carolinas HealthCare System Community Resource Hub at CarolinasHealthCare.org/CommunityResourceHub. Please contact CommunityHealth@AtriumHealth.org for more information regarding how your organization can partner to help us create an impactful program. 

About Carolinas HealthCare System  
Carolinas HealthCare System, one of the nation's leading and most innovative healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness programs throughout the Carolinas. Its diverse network of care locations includes academic medical centers, hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, physician practices, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes and behavioral health centers and hospice and palliative care services. Carolinas HealthCare System works to enhance the overall health and wellbeing of its communities through high quality patient care, education and research programs and numerous collaborative partnerships and initiatives. You can also follow us @Carolinas and on Facebook