#SystemsofCare

#SystemsofCare: What is cultural competence, and how can we use it to battle health inequality?

By Brett Mayfield Health disparities in the United States continue to be an area of focus for many nonprofits. In 2021, NNSI Founder and Director Michelle Shumate focused on this area herself, partnering with leading researchers from renowned medical institutions, namely NNSI’s neighbor organization Northwestern Medicine. Following research1-3 that found that Hispanic medical patients “receive disproportionately fewer living donor kidney transplants (LDKTs) than non-Hispanic Whites” (Gordon et al., 2021), these

#SystemsofCare

Referral data metrics: What is lacking and how to improve data practices going forward

Our previous blog, “Referral data metrics: what they are, what exists, and why they are important,” outlined the five data metrics that inform navigation systems: quality control metrics, demand metrics, supply metrics, referral metrics, and system impact metrics. If you haven’t read the previous entry, check it out first because this article extends this discussion of referral metrics. In this article, we describe essential improvements to metrics that are not

#SystemsofCare

Referral data metrics: what they are, what exists, and why they are important

Navigation systems are increasingly utilizing data to improve their practices. From the microcosmic measurement of client demand in each zip code to the macrocosmic measurement of whether navigation systems improve the environment around them: data can drive the growth, improvement, and success of care. Still, navigation systems are far from fully utilizing the potential of the data all around them. This blog will demonstrate the critical role of data and

#SystemsofCare

Navigation Systems: An introduction to the four types of navigation design

As shown in our previous blog, “Understanding and navigating saturated referral landscapes,” the number of navigation systems is exploding. But, not all navigation systems are created equal. In this blog, we evaluate four common navigation designs and inspect the implications of each respective design. Recall from our last blog: Navigation systems are organizational arrangements designed to support individuals in locating and obtaining valuable benefits, programs, and services. These Navigation systems

#SystemsofCare

Understanding and navigating saturated referral landscapes

Finding and accessing help can be daunting. Individuals in need must figure out where to start, who to ask for help from, and how to go about receiving that help. Navigation systems have recently been introduced as a solution to aid these individuals in overcoming these barriers. Navigation systems are organizational arrangements designed to support individuals in locating and obtaining valuable benefits, programs, and services. In other words, navigation systems

#SystemsofCare

Interview: Insights from a Referral Technology Expert

In this last installment of NNSI’s #SystemsofCare series, we interviewed Yuri Cartier, a research associate at Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network at the University of San Francisco California, and an expert on referral technologies. Cartier’s research includes studying the dimensions of navigator systems and community referral technologies. Cartier has reviewed these technology platforms in her research and published reports on the implementation of these platforms. This interview can help