To improve whole-person health outcomes and transform how people access health and social services in King County, HealthierHere’s Community and Tribal Innovations initiative fostered partnerships with trusted local organizations that understand how best to serve their communities. Through the initiative, partners developed inventive, culturally responsive solutions that reduce health disparities, address gaps and barriers in the physical, behavioral, and Tribal health care systems, and improve access to care.

What is the Community and Tribal Innovations Initiative?

The initiative supported 14 Tribal, Native led/Native-serving and Community-Based organizations to test collaborative, community-based models to improve Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) services for historically underserved communities.  

Organizations partnered across sectors, addressing a range of focus areas, from behavioral health to youth services and immigrant support, addressing key health barriers and challenges faced by diverse populations. The initiative prioritized community-driven solutions that align with each group’s specific cultural needs and health goals.

Partners developed Scale and Sustain Playbooks to tell the stories of their unique innovations and impact, and to provide insights for others interested in exploring similar approaches. Click here to learn about the Innovation Partners and their projects.  

HealthierHere’s Work with the Initiative

HealthierHere provided funding, ongoing consultation, feedback, and shared learning opportunities to help Innovation partners achieve their goals and increase their reach and effectiveness. By providing tailored support to each organization, HealthierHere strived to ensure partners were well-equipped to address the distinct needs of their communities, navigate challenges, and deepen their impact.

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Learnings from the Innovations

HealthierHere collaborated with Headwater People to support partners to evaluate their work throughout the initiative, and to conduct final assessments of the initiatives rooted in community-centered indicators of success.  

The assessments indicate the initiative’s progress in expanding access to culturally appropriate health and social services. Partners reported that community- and Tribal-driven models enhanced trust and engagement with the people they serve, underscoring the power of locally led health interventions. Multiple organizations have continued their innovations projects after the funding period; however, many identified the need for sustainable, flexible funding to continue and scale their efforts.  

Ultimately, the findings suggest that HealthierHere’s approach of providing tailored support to partners who can develop unique, adaptive solutions can help to move the needle in improving health outcomes.

Read HealthierHere’s Community and Tribal Innovations Summary Report for key themes from the initiative.

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What’s Next?

In fall 2024, HealthierHere launched a Community and Tribal Innovations website page for people to learn more about each of the Innovations. At our 2024 Cultivating Connections Series, we brought organizations and community members together to celebrate the powerful work of our Innovations partners and share successes and lessons learned. With an eye toward sustaining these innovative efforts, participants discussed opportunities to advocate for increased access to services part of the Innovations initiative.

HealthierHere is working to expand and deepen its partnerships through the HealthierHere Community Care Network, with various opportunities to get involved. Our vision includes fostering more collaboration and shared learning opportunities across sectors, supporting community-based organizations, and continuing to champion innovation that helps advance health equity in King County and beyond.  

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