Iowa Community HUB Awarded Funding to Develop, Expand, and Enhance Ability to Operate as Community Care Hub

The Iowa Community HUB was selected as one of 20 grantees to be awarded funding through USAging’s Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care (COE). With the funding received through the COE, we will build the HUB’s operational capacity to more effectively bridge the gap between health and social care by connecting Iowans with meaningful, evidence based-health promotion programs, resources, and services to address health-related social needs. The COE is supported by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) and will support community care hubs in their work to assess and address individuals’ health-related social needs and promote whole-person care.

The intent of these awards is to provide infrastructure funding to the selected CCHs like the Iowa Community HUB in support of their contracting efforts with health care organizations for coordinated access to and delivery of social care programs and services (including support for hospital-to-home care transition programs) that assess and address health-related social needs and improve health equity and inclusion for individuals, families, and/or caregivers. These efforts will also enhance Iowa’s No Wrong Door (NWD) access systems and coordinate with local and/or state public health departments.

“The Iowa Community HUB is honored to be awarded this funding and we will use this opportunity to build our capacity to support more partners across the state and foster cross-sector collaborations best capable to prevent and manage chronic disease and address a spectrum of health-related social needs. In particular, we will work to expand our partnership with Iowa’s Aging and Disability Network,” said Trina Radske-Suchan, President/CEO of the Iowa Community HUB. 

About The Iowa Community HUB

The Iowa Community HUB is a nonprofit community care hub (CCH) working with network partners to connect Iowans with meaningful evidence-based programs with a focus on reducing health disparities for priority populations experiencing greater obstacles to health. For more information, visit iacommunityhub.org and follow @The Iowa Community HUB on Facebook.

About USAging

USAging is the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs. Our members help older adults and people with disabilities throughout the United States live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities. For more information, visit usaging.org and follow @theUSAging on Facebook, X and Instagram.

About the Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care

The Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care (COE), part of the Aging and Disability Business Institute at USAging, is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through a cooperative agreement totaling approximately $12 million over a three-year period with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS.

“Health care providers and plans are increasingly prioritizing screening for health-related social needs such as food insecurity, housing instability, unaffordable utilities and lack of transportation, and the aging and disability networks are critical partners in connecting people to the services and programs needed to address them. It has been truly amazing to see the speed at which this work has advanced, thanks in large part to our network’s creation of community care hubs, which are establishing partnerships and contracts between community-based organizations and health care organizations across the nation. ACL looks forward to ongoing collaboration with the Center of Excellence to continue growing community care hubs across the entire country.” 
Alison Barkoff
ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging
"USAging is thrilled to award grants to these 20 outstanding Community Care Hubs. CCHs provide critical administrative and operational supports for networks of Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living and other community-based organizations providing services addressing the health-related social needs of individuals with complex care needs and their caregivers. This funding will bolster the vital work CCHs do in their communities every day to align health and social care to meet people’s needs."
Sandy Markwood
USAging CEO