Healthfirst’s Post

Like many nonprofits, the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) has a big mission and limited staff. One of their main goals for their online community and member experience platform is to improve efficiency and save staff time. When they launched their Higher Logic Community in 2018, it drastically improved the efficiency of one of their biggest member benefits – member queries - by putting members directly in touch with each other. Community empowers their members to ask questions, share their experiences, and make connections without the ACHP staff serving as the go-between. Their recent upgrade to Higher Logic Thrive Platform has opened up even more opportunities to reduce staff burden and create an engaging member experience. The modern community design has refreshed members' interest with a 27% increase in first-time logins. Manager of Membership, Miriam "Molly" Edelman shared that “Since launching [Higher Logic Thrive Platform], we’ve had an increase in activity of our members. They’re posting a lot more, and more importantly they’re replying a lot more. We have a lot fewer unanswered questions in the portal.” And this is just the beginning... We can't wait to see how ACHP continues to thrive. To read more of their story, check out the link in our comments. 👇 --- #associations #community #higherlogicthrive

Here are five facts about support and community: ⭐Social Support Improves Well-Being: Research consistently shows that strong social support networks have a positive impact on mental and physical health. People with a supportive community tend to experience lower levels of stress, depression, and anxiety, and they often report higher levels of life satisfaction. ⭐Online Communities Are Thriving: With the advent of the internet and social media, online communities have become a powerful means of connecting people with shared interests or experiences. These virtual communities provide a platform for individuals to seek and offer support, share information, and build relationships across geographical boundaries. ⭐Community Building Is Essential for Businesses: Companies have recognized the importance of building a strong community around their products or services. Customer communities, often hosted on platforms like forums or social media, help businesses engage with their customers, gather feedback, and foster loyalty. ⭐Volunteering Strengthens Communities: Volunteer work plays a crucial role in supporting communities. Individuals who donate their time and skills to community projects, nonprofits, or local organizations contribute significantly to the well-being of their neighborhoods and society at large. ⭐Crisis Brings Communities Together: During times of crisis, such as natural disasters or public health emergencies, communities often come together to provide mutual support. This sense of unity and collaboration can be a powerful force for resilience and recovery. Support and community are fundamental aspects of human life, contributing to our overall health, happiness, and resilience. They can take many forms, from personal friendships to online forums to neighborhood associations, and they play a vital role in shaping our individual and collective experiences. LeadIn Media

Every January, around the world, you can find many "New Year" well wished for intended efforts, programs and interventions that start-up or have been developed to improve conditions in local communities. These best efforts come together through deliberate dialogues or what is termed "Community Conversations" that aim to tackle social issues with localized goals that can make a difference in many areas of concern such as reducing crime, to open a public health clinic, provide affordable housing, or to help more students do well in school, to give just a few examples. But how do we know whether these programs are working? If they are not effective, and even if they are, how can we improve them to make them better for local communities? And finally, how can an organization make intelligent choices about which promising programs are likely to work best in their community? Over the past years, there has been a growing trend towards the better use of evaluation to understand and improve practice. The systematic use of evaluation has solved many problems and helped countless community-based organizations do what they do better. One of my goals this year as a consultant and social researcher in this area is to provide specific training in organizing and facilitating "Community Conversations" that yield measurable results. As part of that effort, I plan on posting articles that can help guide these efforts. In this process, I'd like YOU to offer some ideas for the upcoming article series too. Lets start. To begin with you need to: #1 DESCRIBE THE IDEA A program description is a summary of the intervention being evaluated. It should explain what the program is trying to accomplish and how it tries to bring about those changes. The description will also illustrate the program's core components and elements, its ability to make changes, its stage of development, and how the program fits into the larger organizational and community environment. How a program is described sets the frame of reference for all future decisions about its evaluation. Over the next few weeks I will add to this series individual articles focusing on each of the following: Statement of need Expectations Activities Resources Stage of development Context Logic model The breadth and depth of a program description will vary for each program. And so, many different activities may be part of developing that description. For instance, multiple sources of information could be pulled together to construct a well-rounded description. The accuracy of an existing program description could be confirmed through discussion with stakeholders. Stay tuned! Keep in mind descriptions of what's going on could be checked against direct observation of activities in the field. A narrow program description could be fleshed out by addressing contextual factors (such as staff turnover, inadequate resources, political pressures, or strong community participation) that may affect program performance.

State of Ageing in North Somerset Voluntary Action North Somerset is working to produce a new ‘State of Ageing in North Somerset’ report, which seeks to bring together information from a wide variety of sources. The aim is for the report to be a useful resource and tool for people and organisations of all sizes across North Somerset, which helps to support and inform planning and decision-making. After a successful workshop on 31 March, attended by over 30 local professionals and community leaders, we have planned two further workshops in early May, focused on specific aspects of growing older in North Somerset   8 May 2pm – 4pm State of Ageing in North Somerset - Inclusion & Participation in Later Life 9 May 2024, 10am-12noon – State of Ageing in North Somerset - Places, spaces, and getting around So, if you’re an organisation or professional working to enable people to be included in local life? You might be running a community project that brings people together, delivering activities or events in a way that welcomes older people, or supporting volunteering or employment initiatives for older people then join us at our event on 8 May – you can book your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/eS3PS7DK If you’re an organisation or professional working in local green spaces, public facilities like libraries, parks and leisure centres, or you have an interest in making public spaces welcoming and accessible to all, or you have a view on how transport (public and private) affects access then join in the conversation on 9 May by booking your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/ePSDJdxa We would love you to come to our workshop/s to share your knowledge and ideas and to discuss:   · What works really well in North Somerset?   · What could be better?   · How can we support what works, and fix what doesn’t?   Please note that booking is essential as spaces are limited. Please do also share with colleagues you feel may be interested.   These events are for professionals, community leaders, and grassroots organisers (including people who volunteer their time) who can share insight about the experiences of local older people in a specific part of North Somerset, or across the region. You don’t have to work only or mostly with older people to attend, but please be aware that the focus will be later life.   There will be a series of activities beginning in late May, focused on listening to local people across North Somerset, through special events, local conversations, interviews, and a survey. If you are able to help to publicise this work, we would love to hear from you!   If you are unable to attend but would like to share information to support the project, please contact Nicola Upton, who is facilitating the workshops and writing the report: nuptonconsulting@outlook.com

Are you interested in better planning to engage with community for programming? Check out this blog post and the tools at the end. We at Delaney Data Empowerment are grateful for the opportunity to develop these tools, which were supported by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund!

State of Ageing in North Somerset Voluntary Action North Somerset is working to produce a new ‘State of Ageing in North Somerset’ report, which seeks to bring together information from a wide variety of sources. The aim is for the report to be a useful resource and tool for people and organisations of all sizes across North Somerset, which helps to support and inform planning and decision-making. After a successful workshop on 31 March, attended by over 30 local professionals and community leaders, we have planned two further workshops in early May, focused on specific aspects of growing older in North Somerset   8 May 2pm – 4pm State of Ageing in North Somerset - Inclusion & Participation in Later Life 9 May 2024, 10am-12noon – State of Ageing in North Somerset - Places, spaces, and getting around So, if you’re an organisation or professional working to enable people to be included in local life? You might be running a community project that brings people together, delivering activities or events in a way that welcomes older people, or supporting volunteering or employment initiatives for older people then join us at our event on 8 May – you can book your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/eS3PS7DK If you’re an organisation or professional working in local green spaces, public facilities like libraries, parks and leisure centres, or you have an interest in making public spaces welcoming and accessible to all, or you have a view on how transport (public and private) affects access then join in the conversation on 9 May by booking your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/ePSDJdxa We would love you to come to our workshop/s to share your knowledge and ideas and to discuss:   · What works really well in North Somerset? · What could be better? · How can we support what works, and fix what doesn’t?   Please note that booking is essential as spaces are limited. Please do also share with colleagues you feel may be interested.   These events are for professionals, community leaders, and grassroots organisers (including people who volunteer their time) who can share insight about the experiences of local older people in a specific part of North Somerset, or across the region. You don’t have to work only or mostly with older people to attend, but please be aware that the focus will be later life.   There will be a series of activities beginning in late May, focused on listening to local people across North Somerset, through special events, local conversations, interviews, and a survey. If you are able to help to publicise this work, we would love to hear from you!   If you are unable to attend but would like to share information to support the project, please contact Nicola Upton, who is facilitating the workshops and writing the report: nuptonconsulting@outlook.com

📞 Nurture Connections: Cultivate meaningful relationships through regular phone calls, text messages, and video chats to demonstrate your genuine care and concern. 🎯 Engage in Communities: Seniors can broaden their social circles by participating in local clubs or special interest groups, opening doors to new friendships and shared interests. 📱 Embrace Technology: Empower seniors to harness the potential of technology for online socializing, helping them bridge the digital gap and stay connected in the virtual world. 🤝 Volunteer Together: Foster a sense of purpose and community involvement by encouraging seniors to give back through volunteering, which can also provide valuable opportunities for social interaction. 🎨 Pursue Passions: Inspire seniors to explore their interests and hobbies, reigniting their sense of joy and fulfillment. 🎮 Family Bonding: Strengthen family ties through enjoyable activities like game nights and movie marathons. 🐾 Unconditional Companionship: Consider the therapeutic benefits of pets, which provide unwavering companionship and emotional support. 👥 Digital Connections: Unlock the potential of social media to discover new connections and reconnect with long-lost friends, enriching seniors' social lives. 🏥 Professional Support: When necessary, seek out senior care services such as those offered by Caring Family Health to ensure your loved ones receive the specialized care and attention they deserve.

🌟 Join the Movement: Empower Your Community with SDOH Solutions!  Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) play a crucial role in shaping individual well-being and community health. At The Community Initiative, we're passionate about making a difference by addressing SDOH challenges head-on. Here's how YOU can help uplift your community through SDOH initiatives: 1️⃣ Raise Awareness: Start conversations about SDOH and their impact on health outcomes. Education is key to driving meaningful change! 2️⃣ Advocate for Policy Change: Support policies that address systemic issues such as housing insecurity, food deserts, and access to healthcare. Your voice matters! 3️⃣ Volunteer and Engage: Get involved in local community projects that tackle SDOH. Whether it's volunteering at a food bank, participating in mentorship programs, or advocating for affordable housing, your efforts make a difference. 4️⃣ Collaborate Across Sectors: Foster partnerships between healthcare providers, social services, government agencies, and community organizations. By working together, we can create comprehensive solutions that address the multifaceted nature of SDOH. 5️⃣ Leverage Technology: Explore innovative technologies and tools that streamline SDOH interventions and improve access to resources for vulnerable populations. Together, we can build healthier, more resilient communities by addressing SDOH challenges. Let's make a lasting impact, one initiative at a time! #SDOH #CommunityHealth #SocialImpact #HealthEquity #PublicHealth