Santa Fe highlights expansion of Connect navigation network; committee approves related provider contracts including Interfaith agreement

Krista Hernandez, Youth and Family Services program manager for the City of Santa Fe, told the Quality of Life Committee on June 18 that Connect — "our navigation and care coordination network" operated in partnership with Santa Fe County — has grown from 13 navigators in 2017 to roughly 300 navigators across about 85 programs and now tracks referrals in the Unite Us closed-loop referral platform.

Hernandez said Connect began using Unite Us in April 2018 and that the network helped the city and county distribute $8,400,000 in CARES Act funding during the pandemic and $3,100,000 in ARPA funds more recently. "We can track through Unite Us the cases that are created," Hernandez said, and reported that of the community cases tracked through the program, 93 percent of closed cases met food needs, 69 percent met housing and shelter needs and 91 percent met income-support needs.

The committee voted to approve a slate of contracts that staff said fund safety-net and navigation services delivered by local nonprofit partners. The agenda contained 19 contracts: staff said three were routed to the city manager and 16 were before the committee for approval. One specific contract discussed at length was a service agreement with Interfaith Community Shelter Group Inc. for "providing overnight shelter, life stabilizing services, and navigation services in the total amount of $320,000 including NMGRT through 06/30/2029." The committee approved the consent agenda that included that contract; the roll call showed five affirmative votes and the motion passed.

Committee members asked about how contract work would proceed after Interfaith’s lease termination at its previous shelter site. Councilor Michael Garcia asked, "I just have one question because I'm assuming this proposal was approved prior to the termination of the lease agreement with Interfaith, and now there's no longer a shelter for them to operate upon the end of next month. So how does that impact this request in front of us?" Staff and Interfaith representatives told the committee the contract funds support navigation and life-stabilizing services beyond operating a physical shelter and that Interfaith currently operates other programs — including a moteling (transitional housing) program and a mobile hygiene "showers to go" service — that could meet contract deliverables. Staff said they had held program-level conversations with Interfaith leadership and had met with Interfaith leadership and the city manager to discuss transition planning and other resource opportunities.

Committee members also discussed requiring navigation partners to join Unite Us. Staff clarified that participation in Unite Us is required for navigation services because the platform supports the closed-loop referral and data tracking required by navigation contracts; safety-net-only providers are expected to refer into Connect through the city's electronic referral process even if they do not themselves make and send Unite Us referrals.

Staff said Connect will continue providing midyear and end-of-year data reports for contract monitoring; Aspen Solutions is contracted to assist with local outcome tracking. Staff also noted a one-time $150,000 flexible fund for Connect and the continuation of a United Way contract to provide bilingual call-center navigation. Committee members encouraged additional outreach and promotion so potential referral sources and residents know how to access Connect (self-referral portal, 211, or partner navigators).

The committee approved the contracts as presented. Staff indicated next steps include onboarding newly contracted partners to Unite Us, tracking midyear data through Aspen Solutions, and continuing transition planning with Interfaith and other providers as needed.