Wellfleet, Mass., December 9, 2024 – Outer Cape Health Services is raising awareness of its Community Resource Navigator Program as the holiday season approaches, a time when many individuals and families face increased stress and financial challenges. Available year-round to all residents of the Outer Cape, the program oLers personalized guidance and support to connect community members with essential services including housing assistance, food security, employment resources, and more.
“The holiday season can be a particularly diLicult time for those struggling with basic needs,” said Dr. Damian Archer, CEO of Outer Cape Health Services. “Our Community Resource Navigators are here to help individuals and families connect to the resources they need, whether it’s behavioral counseling, other health care concerns, help with housing, or navigating state and local services.”
StaLed by trained community resource navigators in partnership with the towns served by Outer Cape Health Services, the program provides free, one-on-one consultations to help people navigate the often complex landscape of community resources and social services. Assistance includes helping individuals apply for benefits such as MassHealth, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and housing aid, as well as providing referrals to local food pantries, employment services, legal counsel and mental health resources.“Our goal is to reduce barriers to access and make sure every member of our community can find the support they need,” said Brianne Smith, Director of Behavioral Health Services at Outer Cape Health Services. “We know challenges like food insecurity, homelessness, and unemployment traditionally rise during the holiday season, and we want to ensure no one has to face these diLiculties alone.”
The Community Resource Navigator Program plays an essential role in Outer Cape Health Services’ broader mission to improve health equity across the Outer Cape. By addressing the social determinants of overall community health – such as access to housing, education, and employment – the program aims to improve overall well-being and reduce health disparities in the region.
A non-reimbursable initiative funded entirely through external sources, the Community Resource Navigator Program depends on the generosity of donors, partnerships with local municipalities and grants to continue connecting residents with critical resources. To help sustain the program, donations are welcomed. Donate online at Give2OCHS, call our development staL at (508) 905-2823, or mail your gift to Outer Cape Health Services, P.O. Box 598, Harwich Port, MA 02646.
The Community Resource Navigator Program is available to anyone living in the Outer Cape community. Patients can be referred to the program by their primary care provider, but self- referrals are also accepted. Community members can contact Outer Cape Health Services directly to schedule an appointment with a resource navigator. No insurance or previous aLiliation with Outer Cape Health Services is required to access the services.
For more information about the Community Resource Navigator Program, click here.
About Outer Cape Health Services:
Outer Cape Health Services is a community health center organization with locations in Harwich Port, Provincetown and Wellfleet. Our mission is to provide a full range of primary health care and supportive social services that promote the health and well-being of all who live in or visit the ten outermost towns of Cape Cod. OCHS cares for more than 18,000 patients annually, and no one is denied access to services due to an inability to pay. Founded in 1987 through the merger of Health Associates of Provincetown and the AIM Medical Center in Wellfleet, Outer Cape Health has a long history of successful growth and expansion in pursuit of this mission. Outer Cape Health Services, Inc. (OCHS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is governed by a Board of Directors representative of its community. All board members live on Cape Cod and the majority are OCHS patients.
For additional information about Outer Cape Health Services, click here.
