Connecting the Dots, June 2024
Reflecting on Men's Mental Health Month
In June, we recognized Men's Mental Health Month, a time to focus on the unique mental health challenges men face and promote resources and support. Men are often less likely to seek help, leading to untreated mental health issues that can result in serious consequences, including substance use disorders (SUDs). In fact, men are two to three times more likely to misuse drugs than women .
To help understand these issues better, read our blog post: The Difference Between Drug Dependence and Addiction . Learn about the distinctions and explore a holistic approach to managing substance use disorders.
??Resource Corner
?? Mobilizing Communities: Essential Strategies for Enhancing Child Wellbeing
Did you miss our latest webinar? Watch it on-demand and learn more about the crucial role of public-private partnerships in supporting families. Discover innovative strategies to boost interagency collaboration, leverage technology for better care connections, and improve outcomes for vulnerable children and families.
Watch the webinar.
?? Celebrating National Children’s Day
Every year, on the second Sunday in June, we take a moment to recognize the vital role children play in our society and highlight how our commitment together shapes a better future for them. To celebrate #NationalChildrensDay this year, we asked two of our community partners making a difference in the lives of children for an impact story. Here’s a taste of what they had to say:
?? Naaila Gray , National Mentor Program Director for U. S. Dream Academy , says working with Unite Us helps “fill the gap” and “expand [their] program reach” to support more children across the nation.
?? LeAnne Rogers Trask , Pollywog Coordinator, says working with Unite Us is crucial for facilitating a "closer relationship with healthcare," and sending "targeted closed-loop referrals."
Check out their testimonials.
?? Power in Partnership: Allsup
In our latest Power in Partnership blog series, learn how Allsup is helping individuals with disabilities and veterans secure the benefits they deserve, and how they assist healthcare providers in identifying eligible patients, saving time, and enhancing patient care.
Read the blog.
??? Industry Events
The Unite Us Research and Evaluation team will be hitting the road to present at several upcoming industry events. Are you attending? You can meet the team and learn more about Unite Us unique research and evaluation work.
?? Industry Trends
ONC’s Draft 2024-2030 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan
Unite Us is proud to share its strong support for the Draft 2024-2030 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan that was recently published by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
We commend the ONC for its forward-thinking framework. Not only does the Plan emphasize the need to further empower and enhance community care delivery, it also highlights that a robust, secure IT infrastructure for data sharing is critical to advancing research and analysis and improving health equity.
Unite Us is fully aligned with the Plan’s vision to “engage individuals, lower costs, deliver high-quality care, and improve individual and population health.”
Read our comment letter on the Plan here .
??? Behind the Screen at Unite Us
This month we recognized Juneteenth, a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. In honor of this holiday, we asked some of our Unite Us team members what Juneteenth means to them.
It means hope. It means perseverance. I don’t want to say freedom, because when Juneteenth occurred, slaves were not necessarily free at first…that’s where perseverance comes through. It was more than just freedom, it was survival.” - Melanie Wadlington , Technical Support Specialist
“Juneteenth is a day in which all American citizens gained their freedom. It opened doors for Black Americans to contribute to things in society like music, movies, art, traffic lights, blood transfusions, and so much more. It allows others to appreciate those contributions.” - Terrell Evans , Care Coordinator