Good health depends on more than medical care alone. CHPW supports whole-person health by working across systems to reduce barriers and strengthen support for individuals, families, and communities throughout Washington, connecting key drivers of health such as education, housing stability, and digital access.

Housing as Health Care

CHPW has continued to advocate for medical respite through collaborations with the National Institute of Medical Respite Care (NIMRC), medical respite providers, Accountable Communities of Health (ACH), and the state’s Health Care Authority. CHPW continued to advance housing stability as a critical driver of health, and in 2025, our housing-related efforts included expanding capacity with four new medical respite contracts, bringing the total to eight by year’s end.

CHPW supported Washington Low Income Housing Alliance (WLIHA)’s statewide forums to gather input on 2026 housing priorities and is exploring opportunities to collaborate with local cities, including Walla Walla, on homelessness planning.

This work was further supported by a new Performance Improvement Project (PIP) the state’s Health Care Authority and all managed care plans collaborated on to reduce homelessness and to demonstrate managed care accountability and shared responsibility across the system. The PIP was informed by CHPW’s Homelessness Data Dashboard, a tool that shows Washington-specific data on homelessness and housing instability, helping illustrate where need is greatest across the state and how housing conditions intersect with health, so providers, advocates, and policymakers can use shared data to inform local advocacy and policy decisions.

Building on this momentum, CHPW released its local housing policy papers which connect housing and health and help align policy, data, and programmatic efforts to support lasting stability for members and communities.

From left to right: Rachel Briegel (Health and Housing Program Manager), Alycia D'Amore (Opportunity Council), Marci Bloomquist (Regional Manager North Sound), and Adrian Lane (CHPW CHW Whatcom) during a September 2025 visit to the Way Station Medical Respite in Bellingham, Washington.

Digital Navigation

CHPW expanded access to care by strengthening telehealth and digital navigation across Washington, recognizing that digital literacy and connectivity are increasingly essential to accessing health services. Through CHPW’s parent organization, Community Health Network of Washington, CHPW supports Link to Care WA, a statewide digital navigation service that offers one-on-one coaching and assistance to help Washingtonians use technology to connect to health care platforms such as their clinic’s health portals.

By addressing digital barriers alongside care delivery, this work strengthened statewide access to health services—supporting increased telehealth use, patient portal adoption, and broader engagement with digital health tools. It extending care beyond traditional clinical settings, helping more people connect to care when and where they need it.

Bridging the Digital Divide: From 2023 through 2025, Link to Care WA helped more than 8,000 individuals receive digital literacy support through Community Health Centers, and 900 people accessed help through a statewide hotline.

Strengthening Access to Essential Resources

Since launching the online platform Findhelp in June 2025, CHPW has strengthened its ability to identify and address members’ social needs while expanding connections to trusted community resources in communities across Washington. “Through this platform, we’re able to help members more easily navigate local support systems that meet their specific needs, while strengthening coordination with community-based organizations and health care partners,” said Tashau Asefaw, Director of Social Drivers of Health at CHPW. When everyday needs affect health, Findhelp helps CHPW members—as well as Care Managers and Community Health Workers—locate free and low-cost services close to home such as food, transportation, employment services, household needs, and more.

These early results highlight how Findhelp strengthens community connections while helping members navigate everyday needs through coordinated, meaningful pathways to health and stability.