Outer Cape Community Solutions (OCCS) has received a $99,935 grant award from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration that will aid the nonprofit consortium to advance a rural health planning network for the region.
The goal of the OCCS’ network is to bring together key healthcare, government and community-based stakeholders to enhance relationships to better coordinate care and services and increase overall access to care in the region.
Community partners include Alzheimer’s Family Support Center; Bay Cove Human Services; Cape Cod Children’s Place; Caregiver Homes; Eastham, Wellfleet and Truro Police Departments; Homeless Prevention Council; Lower Cape Ambulance; and Nauset Public Schools, Helping Our Women, Outer Cape Health Services and Barnstable County Department of Human Services.
The focus area of the Health Planning Network will emphasize unmet needs for social determinants of health and behavioral health, including mental health and substance use disorder for vulnerable populations, including children/youth/young adults, the elderly and the LGBTQ community.
The Governance Team of the new Health Planning Network is comprised ofOuter Cape Health Services, a federally qualified health center, Helping Our Women, a community-based social service provider for women and Barnstable County Department of Human Services, a regional government agency. The three organizations have been very active in the informal stages of the network and have provided in-kind staff time and planning expertise.
The yearlong grant will fund, in part, a Rural Health Network Coordinator to facilitate strategic planning to identify key areas for action in the Outer Cape community. In addition, the network coordinator will organize and facilitate meetings with stakeholders in the Outer Cape region to solicit input for the strategic planning process. This work will position the OCCS consortium to secure future funding to undertake projects to address one or more areas of need such as children’s health, behavioral health, social determinants of health, and health equity. Technical assistance on the project will be provided by the Massachusetts State Office of Rural Health.
Founded in 2019, Outer Cape Community Solutions is a network of health and human services nonprofits and government and town agencies serving the Outer Cape. The consortium meets monthly to create and enhance connections among service providers, discuss topics of mutual interest and concern, and advocate for change.
