Health System–Community Partnership Expands Access to Insurance Coverage, Outpatient Care, Health Education, and Social Support in Low-Income, Minority Communities

Snapshot

Summary

A partnership between Allina Health System and two predominately low-income, minority communities within Minneapolis (Phillips and Powderhorn), the Backyard Initiative seeks to empower residents to manage their health, primarily by supporting residents’ development of social connections. Community residents participate in and evaluate activities that they design and lead, such as promoting health education, forming self-management and social support groups, growing healthy foods, and engaging in physical activity. Through a partnership with a community-based organization, the Backyard Initiative also helps residents secure insurance coverage and gain access to outpatient care. The program has enhanced access to health education, social support, healthy foods, opportunities for physical activity, insurance coverage, and outpatient care for many low-income residents of the two communities, most of whom otherwise would not have been able to receive these services.

Evidence Rating(What is this?)

Suggestive: The evidence consists primarily of post-implementation data on the number of program participants who gained access to health care coverage, outpatient care, health education, social support, healthy foods, and opportunities for physical activity through the program.