Tag: Social Work Spotlight

Social Work Spotlight: Quad Cities Open Network IRIS Resource Hub

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Quad Cities Open Network IRIS Resource Hub

This month, our resource spotlight is on the Quad Cities Open Network (QCON), a collaboration of over 116 Health and Human service organizations. Their shared mission is to bolster community well-being through a robust human services sector. Quad Cities Open Network maintains an Information and Referral Hub that assists agencies in connecting Quad Citizens to the resources they need.

Established in 2020, The Quad Cities Open Network Hub utilizes IRIS, an information and referral tool created by the University of Kansas to facilitate warm hand offs between providers as Quad Citizens in a person-centered way. The hub has evolved to include eighty-five human service providers. These organizations work with QCON to simplify services and referrals, ensuring seamless support for individuals and families in the Quad Cities. According to Cecelia Bailey, QCON Executive Director, ‘navigating community resources during a crisis can be overwhelming’. The IRIS hub’s primary goal is to create a centralized access point, providing individuals and families with a single-entry point to connect to the most relevant resources or services tailored to their needs.

Within the hub, each organization is detailed with an explanation of their services, facilitating efficient referrals. This streamlined process identifies available services and ensures that client’s needs are appropriately addressed, minimizing service gaps and allowing for easy follow-up. Effective communication among the organizations within IRIS is crucial in bridging service gaps. QCON aims to expand the platform to foster a collaborative environment where member agencies complement each other.

The vast network of providers empowers community members, and as the number of participating agencies grows, QCON strives to make a substantial impact through its Resource Hub. The hub’s significance becomes evident during natural disasters as a crucial centralized entry point for coordinating emergency support and resources. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was pivotal in providing a centralized hub for individuals and families to access emergency support and resources.

QCON envisions the Hub as a new standard for information and referral systems, serving as a best practice model for other communities. By collecting data on service gaps and overlaps, QCON aims to inform member agencies, fostering greater collaboration across a sector with finite resources.

All organizations in the Quad Cities committed to serving the local communities are welcome to become part of the IRIS platform. By participating in this initiative, you not only increase awareness for the valuable services you provide but also facilitate smoother referrals. This, in turn, promotes a more interconnected and supportive community where collaboration and communication thrive for the benefit of all. If you want to learn more about how to join IRIS and partner with QCON, please email TheOpenNetworkQC@gmail.com.

Health Care Option for Older Adults

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Health Care Option for Older Adults

In January, our social work spotlight will focus on healthcare options for older adults. As the new year begins, there’s a strong push for self-care and increased health consciousness. Recognizing the challenges older individuals face in accessing healthcare due to mobility issues and other constraints, we are highlighting an essential addition to Davenport’s healthcare landscape: the Oak Street Health Primary Care Center at 2217 Rockingham Rd in Davenport.

Oak Street Health specializes in primary care for older adults on Medicare with Part B benefits and Disability. They offer personalized wellness plans, comprehensive health services, educational programs, and social activities. The primary objective of Oak Street Health is to enhance healthcare outcomes for older adults in the community while ensuring each patient feels warmly welcomed. Their dedicated team of primary care doctors and care team focuses exclusively on meeting the needs of seniors, employing a preventive primary care model tailored to their unique needs. Service delivery is versatile, including behavioral healthcare, support for social determinants, and easy accessibility through a blend of in-center, in-home, and telehealth appointments, along with a 24/7 patient support line. Additionally, for those unable to visit the Oak Street Health Center, they offer home visits.

Services provided include:

  • Same-day/next-day appointments and a 24/7 patient support line
  • Conveniently located in your neighborhood
  • Assistance in understanding your Medicare benefits
  • Hassle-free transfer of medical records and health history
  • Transportation within a 10-mile radius

For further information or to schedule an appointment, please call 563-726-0155 or visit their website at www.oakstreethealth.com.

 

Social Work Spotlight: Kinna’s House of Love

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KINNA’S HOUSE OF LOVE

This month, we’re shining the spotlight on an extraordinary organization dedicated to spreading love and support in the Quad Cities. Kinna’s House of Love is on a mission to assist those facing various challenges, including homelessness, domestic violence, sex trafficking, rape, and trauma. This organization’s driving force is its founder’s passion and her own experiences with sex trafficking, homelessness, and abuse. Her ultimate vision is to create a compassionate and inclusive society where everyone is valued and treated equally, free from judgment. More importantly, she aims to establish a safe and secure environment for those dealing with abuse.

To achieve these goals, Kinna’s House of Love offers a range of programs and services:

  • Kinna’s Corner: A safe place for children and teenagers at risk of physical or sexual abuse. Kinna’s Corner provides therapeutic activities such as art therapy and play therapy. High school students can also benefit from programs focused on financial planning, budgeting, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
  • Coats and Hygiene Drive: Kinna’s House of Love conducts coat and hygiene drives to assist individuals experiencing homelessness. The Davenport Public Library is partnering with Kinna’s House of Love for a Coat Drive through November 20th, 2023. The donated items will be distributed at the Winter Wellness Event at the Davenport Public Library | Main on December 4th, 2023, from 10 AM to 12 PM. Please consider donating winter items such as coats, gloves, and socks at 318 E 7th Street. For drop-off arrangements, please call 563-200-8064.
  • Home-Cooked Meals: Kinna collaborates with various organizations and restaurants to provide home-cooked meals for those at the shelter. These meals are available every Sunday at the Corner of Vine and 5th Street. This is important because most organizations serving meals to those at shelters are closed on Sundays. Kinna’s House of Love also ensures shelter members receive meals during holidays.
  • Job Fairs: Kinna partners with other organizations to organize job fairs for adults, offering job-seeking assistance and programs to eliminate employment barriers.
  • Expungement Clinics: Through a partnership with Iowa Legal Aid, Kinna’s House of Love hosts expungement clinics to help individuals with criminal records overcome barriers to employment.

Kinna’s House of Love is at 318 E 7th Street, Ste 205, Davenport, IA 52802. To learn more about their programs and services, please visit their website at www.kinnashouseoflove.com or call  at 563-200-8064.