Find Help Mississippi’s primary goal is to boost communication between healthcare and social services to improve follow-through on referrals, as well as to act as a support finder for citizens.
Madison, MS - The Mississippi Hospital Association today announced the launch of Find Help Mississippi. This community information exchange tool connects Mississippians with community-based organizations, county and state agencies, and healthcare providers, for referrals to community resources that help them meet their most basic needs like food, shelter, transportation, and more. Find Help Mississippi also allows individuals to refer themselves for services and facilitates greater connection and communication between healthcare providers and organizations that serve shared populations.
"We are committed to ensuring Mississippians get the care they need, when and where they need it. And that care is not always medically related," said Kim Hoover, RN, PhD, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Mississippi Hospital Association. "We are also seeking partners in Mississippi communities to help us achieve this vital mission. If we can help connect our patients to things like shelter, transportation to medical appointments, and food, we can help them better manage their chronic conditions and live fuller, healthier lives."
A person’s overall health and wellness are influenced by far more than physical health alone. Socioeconomic, environmental, and behavioral factors shape our present and long-term health outcomes. The National Academy of Medicine estimates that social determinants of health like income, access to essential resources, education and employment, social support, and physical environment contribute up to 90 percent of health outcomes.
Despite this, healthcare providers, social service organizations, and community-based organizations can help people experiencing barriers to essential needs. Find Help Mississippi bridges these systems through a shared platform where healthcare providers and social services organizations can track client referrals and better understand and assist with a client’s individual needs, helping them access services and support.
The search tool is available in over 100 languages and is quick and easy to use. The website is open to all and free to use, and the database includes services available in Mississippi and nationally. The site is HIPAA- and FERPA-compliant and HITRUST certified.
Among the categories of help offered:
• Food (including community gardens, help paying for food, government assistance, and food delivery)
• Housing (including finding housing, help paying for utilities, public housing, and temporary shelters)
• Goods (including help paying for diapers, baby formula, clothing, blankets, furniture, medical supplies, and toys)
• Transit (including help with bus passes, paying for a car, and paying for gas)
• Health care (including help paying for health care, finding medical care, addiction/recovery services, dental, eye care, mental health, and sexual/reproductive health)
• Money (including financial assistance, financial education, tax preparation, how to apply for government benefits, loans, and insurance)
• Self-care, daycare, and animal care (including recreation centers, animal welfare, nursing homes, and daycare)
• Education (including financial aid, preschool, tutoring)
• Finding work (including job placement services, finding clothes and supplies for work, help with resumes and interviewing)
• Legal help (including finding a lawyer, help with adoption and citizenship cases, and mediation services)
The tool will also gather data to help state partners better understand the health and social services needs of Mississippians and identify service gaps or opportunities for better support across the state. By looking at critical social determinants of health, including employment, childcare, transportation, food security, access to health care, and housing stability, Mississippi agencies and partners at the county and local level can help Mississippians achieve better long-term health outcomes.
For more information and to find resources in your community, visit www.findhelpms.com.
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1M with 0 percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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Media Contact: Shawn Rossi, [email protected]