What is the community connection proGram?

Overall health and wellness are shaped largely by where you were born, where you live, and age. The Community Connection Program (CCP) addresses critical gaps between clinical care and social needs through screening, referral, and community navigation services.

Patients are asked questions about potential needs such as:

·      Access to food

·      Stable and quality housing

·      Reliable transportation

·      Utilities

·      Safety (Interpersonal violence)

If eligible, a Community Health Worker is assigned to them to lessen barriers they face, navigate, and make referrals to community-based organizations, and provide clinical support. Connecting patients with the assistance they need helps them create meaningful changes in their life and opportunities for equitable care as well as enhances the well-being of the community.

Interested in interning with the Community Connection Program? For more information, click here.

WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE CCP

“I’ve been struggling for a long time and had trouble finding help, thank you so much for calling me and providing assistance.” ”
— Reading Hospital CCP Patient
“We deeply appreciate the open communication between Reading Hospital medical staff and our agency. It is one of the finest examples of collective community impact I have experienced in our community.””
— LuAnn Oatman, President, Berks Encore
“Working with CCP and all the partners within the community has made serving patients and clients most effectively and efficiently. This program addresses SDoH among the neediest members of our community and allows for a “soft-handoff” to other service providers.””
— Nancy Boudreau, Deputy Director, Berks Community Action Program (BCAP)
““The CCP team is highly skilled in addressing social determinants of health and are valued fro their dedication to improving the health and lives of our patients and community.””
— Brian Lahmann, Chair, Emergency Medicine, Reading Hospital

READ ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CONNECTION PROGRAM

For more information, please reach out to CCP@towerhealth.org.

  1. Social Determinants of Health: Conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes (CDC, 2021).