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Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida and UF Health St. JohnsAnnounce Partnership to Expand UF Health Care ConnectServices to Club Community

  • Category: News
  • Posted On:
  • Written By: Erin Wallner
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida and UF Health St. JohnsAnnounce Partnership to Expand UF Health Care ConnectServices to Club Community

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (June 22, 2021)Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida and Flagler Health+ proudly announced today an extended partnership that will connect more than 2,400 Club youth and families across Duval, St. Johns and Alachua Counties to available services and resources that address the social determinants of health in a coordinated way – establishing Care Connect+, a social health organization led by Flagler Health+, as the Club’s exclusive social health partner.

“We are so excited to extend our partnership with UF Health St. Johnsand establish UF Health Care Connectas our exclusive social health partner,” said Paul Martinez, President & CEO at Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida. “Thanks to Flagler Health+, we’re able to continue creating a safe place for the families we serve, as well as start to break down the social barriers and health disparities by providing immediate access to resources and services in more of a holistic approach.”

As part of the extended partnership, Care Connect+ will provide Club families with single point access to community resource navigation and case management services – including establishing a medical home for primary care services, prescription assistance, dental services, rental and utility payment assistance, transportation, access to local food banks and homeless prevention services. Growing research shows that up to 60% of a person’s overall health is determined by social and environmental factors – known as the social determinants of health.

Additionally, Club members and families will have access to youth behavioral resources through B.R.A.V.E. (Be Resilient and Voice Emotions). The program, which was first launched in St. Johns County with support from THE PLAYERS, encourages area youth to get in touch with their mental health early on, be open to receiving help, and access the care they need right away. B.R.A.V.E. includes resources such as a 24-hour crisis text line, care coordination and navigation services, virtual mental health counseling and more.

“I am thrilled that our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida will help UF Health Care Connectbring vital mental health and social services to even more children and their families, particularly those who may not otherwise have access,” said Jason Barrett, President and CEO of Care Connect+. “The Boys & Girls Clubs organization has a tremendous legacy of success and I look forward to seeing this collaboration have an even bigger impact on improving the health and well-being of the families they serve.”

The partnership will support Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida’s mission by launching Care Connect+ services across its 37 Clubs. Twelve Clubs will serve as access points, connecting members and families to services via UF Health Care ConnectKiosks located in the Club lobbies. In addition, two of those Clubs will serve as access points for expanded health services, connecting members and families to the delivery of clinical services through UF Health St. JohnsTelehealth Kiosks.

  • Twelve (12) Boys & Girls Club community sites in Duval, St. Johns and Alachua counties will serve as access points with UF Health Care Connectkiosks located in the clubs.
  • Two (2) Boys & Girls Club community sites in Duval and St. Johns counties will offer expanded health care services through telehealth kiosks.

To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, visit bgcnf.org. To learn more about UF Health Care Connectand its resources, visit careconnectplus.com.