Project Summary:
United Way of Wisconsin manages 211 Wisconsin, a comprehensive information and referral service that connected callers to over 400,000 resources in 2023, addressing needs from housing to healthcare. While the current system includes basic screening for primary and secondary needs, it doesn’t currently have a tool for assessing social determinants of health (SDOH), limiting the ability to systematically identify and address complex client needs across the network.
United Way of Wisconsin will pilot the integration of a validated screening tool, such as PRAPARE (Protocol for Responding to and Assessing Patients' Assets, Risks, and Experiences), into both the 211 Wisconsin contact center system and the Wisconsin Care Hub platform. The project will develop new workflows, provide comprehensive training for 211 community specialists and community health workers, and implement the screening tool first in selected contact centers before a broader rollout. This systematic approach will enhance the identification of social needs while building a comprehensive database of social determinants of health (SDOH) information.
The initiative aims to transform how social needs are identified and addressed across Wisconsin's support systems, contributing to reduced healthcare disparities and improved health outcomes. By standardizing SDOH screening across the 211 network and Wisconsin Care Hub, the project will generate data to inform public health strategies and policies while creating a model that can be replicated by other 211 systems nationwide. This enhanced screening capability will particularly benefit vulnerable and underserved populations, including low-income families, children, elderly individuals, and those facing significant health disparities.