Cover AZ Coalition Call Partnering with Faith-based and Community Organizations: Health Literacy and Open Enrollment Heidi Christensen Associate Director for Community Engagement HHS Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnership August, 17, 2016

  Connections: A Peer-Learning Webinar Series on Connecting Consumers to Coverage and Care Co-hosted by Enroll America and the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Making Connections that Stick: Best Practices that Turn Outreach into Relationships   Staying in Touch: The Art of Connecting Consumers to Year Round Access Connecting the System: Technology for Consumer Engagement Health as a Second Language: Connecting Health Insurance Literacy to Outreach & Coverage to Care Efforts PowerMapping: Expanding Capacity & Building Partnerships to Connect with Consumers All Year Long Connections: A peer-learning webinar series on Connecting Consumers to Coverage and to Care . The series covered a broad range of best practices– with presenters sharing as peers to peers, including: how social media strategies support the ground game of in-person assistance how navigator/assister orgs embed post-enrollment strategies in enrollment activity (collect info, get consent to contact…) smart ways to map for potential partners and engage them You can listen and view the series by going to Enroll America’s www.enrollamerica.org/peer-learning-webinar-series www.enrollamerica.org/peer-learning-webinar-series

Making Connections to Wellness through Health Literacy & Open Enrollment   Faith and community-based organizations are “place-based’ in communities providing access to hard to reach consumers. These groups can support the health and wellbeing of their communities by:   Joining a local ACA coalition to collaborate with community partners Referring community members to in-person assistance Opening their doors to health care educators and in-person assisters Becoming a Certified Application Counselor Organization (CAC)

Join a Local ACA Coalition Our first request is that local affiliates, congregations or branches of our national partners join local ACA Coalitions and collaborate with navigator organizations, public health offices, HHS regional leadership and the many other community partners to connect with existing strategies– and bring their assets of space, volunteers, or promotional capacity to what is already happening in the community to enroll and educate consumers. (Coalitions can include: Chambers of Commerce, Insurance agents brokers, Grassroots organizations like Enroll America, Organizing for Action, Planned Parenthood  Labor unions,  Faith leaders  interfaith coalitions,  Community health centers  Hospital healthcare organizations, such as doctors, nurses, or social workers Community Colleges, Universities, Tech colleges, Fraternities,  sororities  Public school district,  HHS Regional Office) Join a Local ACA Coalition

The best way to connect with local ACA Coalitions is to reach out to the HHS Regional offices. To connect with an ACA coalition contact the HHS Regional offices listed at http://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/iea/regional-offices/

Referring to in-person assistance Faith and community organizations can find out who the assister group is closest to them --either through the coalition or by going to Find Local Help or the Enroll America Connector or United Way 2.1.1 -- and create a process for referring people to in-person assistance. They may be able to place signage or Commit Cards at front desks and common areas or during membership or community events. Or they can work with assisters to prepare staff and volunteers at those front desks or during membership activity to-- “Ask the Question”- “Do you and your family have health insurance? [We] have partnered with people who can help meet your health insurance needs.” We are also asking that communities save room in their newsletter, bulletin or on their webpage to “ask the question” and include referral information, schedules, and locations to make appointments. Referring to in-person assistance Organizations can help by referring community members to in-person assisters in-house, at upcoming events, or the standing office locations of assisters and navigators.

Opening Doors To Health Educators And Assisters The third request is for community, place-based organizations, to open their doors to the navigator/assister and health educators– all year long. Consider community events or services, such as ESL, mentoring, or job training, that may be enhanced by access to a health insurance educator, enrollment assister, health or financial literacy programs. Make room for “tabling” at special community events or when an enrollment deadline is fast approaching. Again with capacity in mind of the nav/assister community– Opening your Doors Make your space available to services that meet the needs of newcomer, immigrant, and non-English speaking members of the community and neighborhoods including health coverage educators and assisters as well as Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs .   Opening Doors To Health Educators And Assisters Make space available to services that meet the needs of newcomer, immigrant, and non-English speaking members of the community and neighborhoods, including health coverage educators and assisters and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs.

Becoming a Certified Application Counselor (CAC) Organization We are encouraging organizations that may meet the criteria and have the capacity to do so, apply to become CAC’s. Also the request to the coalitions members that are CAC organization or partnering with CAC designated organizations think of faith communities as a place to seek volunteers to take the training and work as assisters under your CAC. Becoming a Certified Application Counselor (CAC) Organization Certified Application Counselor (CAC) organization can recruit volunteer assisters from faith and community organizations.

http://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/iea/partnerships/index.html We are updating the faith and Community toolkit which will be on the HHS Partnership Center website http://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/iea/partnerships/index.html

Faith Weeks of Action Dates Theme November 7th- 14th Thankful for Coverage December 19th -24th The Gift of Health January 16th -29th MLK week of Service Faith weeks of action can be a great time to ask communities to make room for conversations around health issues of concern to the community and wrap around information about coverage benefits and need for coverage.

HHS Partnership Center Website and Newsletter Make sure to visit our website– for the toolkits and resources. Also please sign up for our newsletter– we announce upcoming webinars, resources, agency news new grants and announcements that will be of interest to our constituency. http://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/iea/partnerships/index.html