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Olympic Connect launches regional care‑hub to link social and health services across three counties
Summary
Olympic Community of Health described Olympic Connect, a new care-hub network that launched in October 2024 to coordinate referrals, provide trusted helpers, braid funding streams and fund local care-coordination partners across Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties.
Miranda Burger, director of programs at Olympic Community of Health, presented Olympic Connect — a new community-care-hub model that links people to social supports and health services across Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties.
Burger said Olympic Connect pairs individuals with a trained “trusted helper” who helps people navigate services such as transportation, employment supports, food assistance, childcare and housing. The hub launched in October 2024, accepts self-referrals and partner referrals via phone or an online form, and does not impose eligibility criteria, she said. Olympic Connect is not a crisis service; Burger said the hub aims to make a match within days and up to seven days in less complex cases.
Burger outlined the program’s funding and partnerships: Olympic Community of Health receives Medicaid transformation dollars through Washington’s 1115 waiver (about $17,000,000 to the organization for the 2023–2028 period), an Economic Development Administration grant (about $9,800,000 through 2029) and a Department of Health grant (just over $1,000,000) supporting regional expansion. Olympic Connect contracts with 12 care-coordination partners in the region and is funding seven additional projects to expand community resources, Burger said.
The program will be evaluated through statewide and regional measures included in the DOH and Health Care Authority frameworks; preliminary evaluation results are expected by mid‑2027 and the final evaluation by 2028, she said. Burger invited board members and the public to refer clients and to join trainings and outreach events.
Board member questions focused on technology and data-sharing: Member Jackson asked whether Olympic Connect integrates with the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and how the hub defines “community member.” Burger said Olympic Connect is building a shared client-management system for regional coordination and that “anyone who lives or seeks care here in Clallam, Jefferson, or Kitsap Counties would be considered a community member.”
No formal board vote or policy change accompanied the presentation; the board received the briefing and asked staff to circulate program materials.
