With so many shortages regarding health care in Kitsap County, it can be a chore finding the services you need.
So Olympic Community Health has developed Olympic Connect to help people find resources such as health care, along with food, child care, housing and more. It is a community-driven network of partners on the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas that helps folks “find the right care, at the right time and in the right place,” a news release says.
“Olympic Connect delivers on our name: we connect people to care and services through trained and highly skilled trusted helpers,” said Celeste Schoenthaler, OCH executive director. “These trusted helpers are individuals from our region with lived experience and cultural knowledge, who work with a variety of organizations, Tribes, industries, and sectors.”
At the start, folks are paired for free with a helper who will provide the one-on-one support they need to achieve their health and life goals. Anyone can access Olympic Connect regardless of insurance or Medicaid status.
It is the job of the helper to assist the person in planning and navigating expenses that will follow. “Health is about so much more than what happens in a doctor’s office or clinic,” Schoenthaler said.
“By removing barriers and helping community members access services like housing, food assistance, transportation, and more, we can create a region of healthy people and thriving communities,” she said.
Rather than having to reintroduce themselves, clients can easily move through a system designed to support them at every step. The helpers will assist in setting goals, making an action plan and regularly checking in to make sure they get support for as long as they need it.
Community members can self-refer to Olympic Connect online at olympicconnect.org or call a local helpline at 360-301-8252.
For details, email connect@olympicch.org
OCH’s purpose is to tackle health issues that no single sector or tribe can tackle alone. Its board consists of leaders from tribal nations and health sectors within the region. Learn more at www.olympicch.org.