Poverty as a Treatable Condition: Transition to Success — a Trailblazing Disruptor of Poverty

Poverty can be tied directly to the unmet social needs that beset the millions of clients served by health and human services organizations across the country. The TTS model begins with the premise that poverty is not a character flaw. Poverty, like any known health issue, is caused by environmental exposures, and is a treatable condition.

TTS establishes the first standards of care to treat the condition of poverty, responding to the social determinants of health by coordinating care across healthcare, human services, government, faith- based organizations and educational organizations. By aligning on a uniform set of coordination of care protocols and analytics based on evidence-based practices, the TTS model seeks to improve the health and self-sufficiency for clients of all ages. TTS protocols assess, respond and measure outcomes related to social determinants affecting health, education and economic self-sufficiency across 19 domains. In addition, TTS integrates four primary therapeutic interventions identified by research: comprehensive care management, volunteerism, life coaching and financial literacy.

By aligning on a uniform set of coordination of care protocols and analytics based on evidence-based practices, the TTS model seeks to improve the health and self- sufficiency for clients of all ages by assessing, responding to and measuring outcomes.

Trained providers use the TTS method to collaborate closely with direct care professionals and a broad range of social service agencies: health, education, faith-based, government and human services. TTS facilitates and coordinates existing services that are already funded into logical, effective step-by-step processes. This is accomplished by creating a plan called CARE (Coordinating All Resources Effectively). Clients are assisted in building a “Map of My Dreams” that establishes a set of goals for the client and the map that will guide the client to the realization of those goals. This includes volunteerism and financial literacy — and human services professionals and peer mentors work with clients to effectively follow their map to realize their dreams.

The TTS model has already been put to use and evaluated across the nation, and is providing a higher quality of service to thousands of people, yielding statistically significant results.

Case in Point: A New Approach to Detroit’s Old Problems
Detroit has become a significant testing ground for TTS. It was in the Motor City where the TTS model began to break down the isolated, compartmentalized silos that exist between organizations and produce noticeable results. TTS also established a “train the trainer” model, which has caused TTS to multiply as trainers, curriculum and the use of efficient measuring tools increased.

Significant impact can be seen in Detroit, Michigan, via the Matrix Human Services Head Start Program, which utilized the TTS Standards of Care to treat the condition of poverty.

In 2015, integrating client volunteerism, a demonstrated best practice in the treatment of poverty, Matrix volunteers provided 250,000 hours of volunteer services. This is not inclusive of the volunteer services provided by clients at other businesses and organizations.

In 2015, working with community partners, 15 tons of fresh food were delivered to Matrix locations every week and distributed by client volunteers. This vital program was maintained without any additional funding to Matrix.

Outcomes of the Head Start program included the following:

• 100 percent of Matrix Head Start children received hearing and vision screenings.
• 98.5 percent of children enrolled in the program were up-to-date on immunizations, utilizing existing healthcare funding streams at no cost to the organization.
• 90 percent of referrals to supportive services (food, clothing, etc.) made to clients enrolled in non-medical case management were successful (203 referrals out of 225).

The TTS model, collaborative technology, shared treatment protocols and shared data security can drive benefits in improved health outcomes, improved economic self-sufficiency, healthier communities, lower healthcare costs and better health education. This ultimately leads to the ability to realistically and effectively create a person-centric, transformational community change — maximizing existing funded services to improve health and economic self-sufficiency for individuals and families.

Learn how the Community Health Hub powers the TTS model to create a solution that effectively addresses the issue of the negative impact of poverty on healthcare — and creates a unified technology that bridges the gap between healthcare and the lack of resources for social determinants to deliver improved outcomes and sustainable results.

For a more in-depth discussion and analysis of how the Community Health Hub helps meet the challenges of sustainable healthcare change, download our white paper today.