Health Starts

Evidence Step: Evidence

Department: TennCare

Priority Area: Strong Families and Communities

Program Description

Health Starts aims to address members’ non-medical risk factors such as food insecurity, transportation, social supports and others. Through collaboration with the Managed Care Organizations and TennCare providers (including primary care, behavioral health, LTSS, BESMART, and others), program initiatives better screen, identify, and refer for non-medical risk factors. The program draws on evidence around the benefits of Community Health Workers to those they serve as one component of this program.

Learn More on Program Website

Details

Program Demographic: Infancy / Early Childhood, Children, Adolescents / Young Adults, Adults, Families

Delivery Setting: Organization / Business / Local Government

Current Participants: 24,000

Research

Effects of Social Needs Screening and In-Person Service Navigation on Child Health

Evaluation of the Health Care Innovation Awards: Community Resource Planning, Prevention, and Monitoring

Community Health Workers

Logic Model

If we identify and address social risk factors through connection with community-based resources and care liaisons, then we will expect improvement in utilization of high-cost care settings and more stable living environments for members which will reduce chronic stressors to an individual’s health, and result in improved health outcomes for TennCare members.