BHT one of 20 Nationwide selected for US Aging Center of Excellence Funding

We are SO excited to announce that we have been selected as one of 20 organizations to be awarded funding through the US Aging Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care (COE). The COE is supported by the Administration for Community Living 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 BHT in support of their contracting efforts with healthcare 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 Washington’s No Wrong Door access systems and coordinate with local and/or state public health departments.

“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,” said Alison Barkoff, who leads ACL. “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.” 

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.