Integration of Care Committee Meeting – March 18th, 2026

INTEGRATION OF CARE COMMITTEE MEETING

March 18 2026, 10:00 – 11:33 AM

By Zoom Videoconference

DRAFT MINUTES

Members Present:  Jeff Natt (Co-chair),  Raffi Babakhanian, Victoria Bell, Billy Fields, Gretchen George Ty, Dorothy Farley, Ronnie Fortunato, Charmaine Graham, Christopher Joseph, Jemima Maxine Louis, Marcelo Maia, Cesar Nuñez, Jesus Robles, John Schoepp

Guest/Others Present: Heather Zuckerwise-Choi (Find Help)

Staff Present: NYC DOHMH: David Klotz (Governmental co-chair), Doienne Saab (Cmte. Support Staff), Michael Navejas, Abraham Omeyoma; Recipient: Johanna Acosta, Scott Spiegler, Renee James, Jelani Cheek, Sara Kramer

Agenda Item # 1: Roll Call/Moment of Silence/Minutes

Jeff N. and Doienne S. opened the meeting and reviewed the agenda. Doienne S. conducted a roll call. Members were informed that the January Integration of Care Committee minutes had been circulated in advance. No corrections noted, and hence approved.

A moment of silence was held led by John S.

Doienne S. acknowledged Women’s History Month. Jeff N. uplifted the No Kings Protest March taking place on March 28^th, 2026 at 7^th Ave and Central Park, 2pm. Raffi B. uplifted the 39^th Anniversary of ACT UP and their call to action.

Agenda Item #2: Closed-Loop Referrals and FindHelp Overview  

Heather Zuckerwise-Choi from delivered a presentation on closed-loop referrals, an approach to care coordination that enables providers to refer individuals to services and track whether those referrals are successfully completed.

She provided an overview of Findhelp, a nationwide online platform that connects individuals to free or low-cost community services through a searchable directory and referral system.

Key Highlights

• Platform Overview
  • Findhelp operates nationwide, covering every U.S. ZIP code with over 987,000 program locations.
  • Organizations can join the network to send and receive referrals.
  • The platform facilitates approximately 350,000 closed-loop referrals per month.
  • In New York State:
    • Over 12 million searches conducted
    • 2,572 in-network programs serving New Yorkers
• Common Service Needs
  • Most frequently searched categories:
    • Housing (e.g., rent assistance, utilities, housing placement)
    • Food (e.g., food pantries)
• Closed-Loop Referral System
  • In-network referrals: Organizations opt in to receive referrals and can track outcomes.
  • Out-of-network referrals: Referrals can still be made, though tracking may be limited.
  • Referrals require client consent, and information is shared securely on a 1:1 basis.
  • Supports coalition data sharing, with systems that are HIPAA-compliant and high-trust certified.
    • Data & Quality Assurance
  • Directory information is regularly validated by Find Help staff, with updates accepted by providers, partners, and users.
  • Technology is used to identify outdated listing information.
  • Service-level expectation: 95% of listings should be up to date.
  • Cloud-based data storage (Google infrastructure) ensures security and protection.
    • Outcomes Tracking
  • Built-in outcome tracking tools allow providers to document results beyond referral completion.
  • Outcomes are tailored by service type to better quantify impact.
    • Additional Features
  • Free tools for screening eligibility for government benefits
  • Program management tools available at no cost for organizations
  • Platform supports 135 languages, with the ability to send resources in a client’s preferred language
  • Configurable features (e.g., capacity management, best-fit matching)
    • System Integration
  • Supports 1115 Waiver initiatives
  • Works with FQHCs and not for profits across NYC

Platform Demonstration

A live demo was conducted showcasing how to:

• Search for programs by ZIP code and service need
• Apply filters (e.g., income eligibility, population served, language)
• Access detailed program information (including location, notes, and contact options)
• Providers can request and send referrals; track follow-up status
• Print or email resources in a preferred language
• Save favorite resources and add internal notes
• View user referral progress and follow-up details

Existing Find Help free and low cost service directory examples included: NYC Health and Hospitals, AARP, DC Department of Health – Link U

Additional Features Noted

• Crisis Response Integration
  • Suicide prevention and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) resources are flagged for additional emergency assistance and support; integration with services such as 211
• Trainings and Capacity Support
  • Tools available to help organizations learn and manage the platform

Discussion & Considerations

• Questions were raised regarding:
  • Data accuracy and updates, particularly for outdated program information
  • Outcome-based tracking capabilities and how impact is measured
• Findhelp noted:
  • Ongoing quality assurance processes and user feedback loops
  • Verification protocols for suggested updates
  • Emphasis on measurable outcomes beyond referral completion

Next Steps

• Committee members wanted to see the closed-loop referral process integrated into RWPA service models
• Recipient should consider opportunities to integrate closed-loop referral system platforms such as FindHelp into service delivery
• Potential follow-up discussion on implementation and alignment with current care coordination efforts

The Next Steering Committee Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026

10-11:30 AM.

There being no further business, the meeting was­­ adjourned.