UF Health St. JohnsCare Connect & Flagler Cares Announce Strategic Alliance to Expand Social Health Services in Flagler County

St. Augustine, Fla. – April 15, 2020 – Flagler Cares and UF Health St. JohnsCare Connect announced today the formation of UF Health Care ConnectFlagler County, a strategic alliance established to expand and enhance the social health services available to residents of Flagler County.

By integrating UF Health St. JohnsCare Connect’s unified intake and referral process with Flagler Cares’ coordinated case management, Flagler County residents will benefit from increased access, collaboration and coordination of resources. The key to this strategy is the expansion of UF Health St. JohnsCare Connect’s electronic case management and referral system and the development of the Flagler County Provider Network.

“The current COVID-19 pandemic has broadened and accelerated the social health needs of many people in our community, while also uncovering areas where Flagler Cares needs to place added focus,” said Flagler Cares Executive Director, Carrie Baird. “By leveraging Care Connect+’s technology and resources, we can provide faster, more robust services to our community in a time when they need it most.”

Research continues to highlight that social and environmental factors, known as social determinants of health, are responsible for up to 60% of an individual’s overall health and wellbeing. UF Health St. JohnsCare Connect includes a network of 50 community-based organizations that address social determinants with concentrated efforts around homelessness, youth behavioral health and volunteerism.

“This alliance with Flagler Cares supports our vision to advance the physical, social and economic health of the very special communities we serve,” added Jason Barrett, CEO of Flagler Health+. “We have a long history of serving the residents of Flagler County and look forward to expanding that relationship through this alliance and in other ways. “

Residents affected by COVID-19 with immediate needs for assistance with food, rental navigation and understanding the unemployment application process can reach UF Health Care ConnectFlagler County by calling 904-819-3094 or completing the Get Connected form at www.careconnectplus.com.

ABOUT FLAGLER HEALTH+

UF Health St. Johns is a total-care enterprise aimed at advancing the physical, social and economic health of Northeast Florida communities. From working with area schools to address youth behavioral health to bringing a new concept in health villages throughout the region, UF Health St. Johns is building healthier communities. UF Health St. Johns is an extension of UF Health Flagler Hospital, which has a 130-year legacy of caring for the community. Learn more at flaglerhealth.org.

ABOUT FLAGLER CARES

Flagler Cares is a broad, county-wide initiative to expand the safety net for our citizens in need, to build a coordinated system of social, financial and health services, and to decrease societal and personal costs by providing services as efficiently as possible.