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Open Arms reports growth in ARPA‑funded outreach clinics; staff say sustainability plans underway
Summary
Open Arms, an ARPA‑funded community health outreach partner, has enrolled more than 1,000 new patients in 2023 and 2024, expanded mobile clinic use and seeks additional partnership funding to sustain services beyond county ARPA dollars.
County staff briefed the Health and Human Services Board on July 16 about Open Arms’ ARPA‑funded outreach work. Sarah Nichols, Open Arms’ executive director, described the program as “transformative” and said the organization’s community‑based clinics and mobile health hub have delivered screening and basic services at community events and schools.
County staff reported that Open Arms enrolled more than 1,000 new patients in both 2023 and 2024 and has added roughly 500 new patients year‑to‑date in 2025. The program established a “quick clinic” model to handle increased volume and has ramped up use of its mobile health hub for summer outreach events. To date, staff said the county has awarded Open Arms just under $500,000 in ARPA funds and that the organization is seeking additional funding, including a University of Wisconsin Partnership Program grant, to sustain services after current ARPA funding is exhausted in 2026.
Sarah Nichols and county staff said Open Arms is planning for sustainability and presented a summer calendar of outreach events where nurses and clinicians will be available for blood‑pressure checks, school physicals and health referrals. County staff said they will continue to monitor enrollment and sustainability plans and to assist with letters of support for external grants.
Why this matters: the program provides low‑barrier access to basic health care in community locations and has rapidly grown patient enrollment; sustaining the model beyond one‑time ARPA funding will require additional grants or other revenue.
Board action: the board received the update; staff said they will continue to support Open Arms’ grant efforts and report back on sustainability planning.
