For years, we have partnered with the United Way of the Capital Region (Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties) to empower independence through health care access.
Specifically, our investment in their Contact to Care program — launched in 2017 — has already made a profound difference. Nearly 3,900 individuals have received referrals to support programs or vouchers for essential vision and dental care.
This success stems from a targeted, community-focused approach. The program actively reaches out to individuals facing barriers to health care, including language, transportation, and socioeconomic challenges. At the heart of this effort are nine community health workers — intentionally recruited to reflect the diverse backgrounds of the communities they serve, with a priority given to bilingual (primarily Spanish-speaking) candidates.
To further enhance outreach, 12 health navigation videos have been created in English, Spanish, Nepali, and Arabic. These will reinforce the crucial messages delivered by the community health workers, building upon the existing use of CyraCom language services at free health care clinics. A new video featuring a program participant’s journey, highlighting the crucial role of overcoming language barriers, has also been produced.
The program has a comprehensive approach, tackling transportation issues, health care access, and language barriers. With plans to expand into local school districts, the program will soon provide even more families with critical support, addressing needs ranging from annual checkups and dental screenings to food insecurity and transportation.
We are dedicated to strengthening these vital community partnerships and enhancing communication to ensure equitable access to resources for everyone.
