A healthy work force is affected more by social determinants — access to quality health care and nutritious food as well as education and economic stability — than advice in a doctor’s office. 

About 10 percent to 20 percent of health outcomes are tied to medical interventions. However, 80 percent to 90 percent of our health is determined by where we live, work, learn and play. When people struggle in one of these areas, it can affect every part of their well-being.

Businesses offer resources to help employees thrive at work and home. Community resources provide additional support.

It can be overwhelming, though, for employees to navigate these different resources and programs to find what best suits their needs — whether that’s finding child care or requesting financial help to pay for child care, accessing mental health services or applying for food assistance. The need for these services has increased over the last few years, especially for employees in industries hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The simple answer to finding solutions to these problems is Grand Valley Connects.

Grand Valley Connects is a resource hub that provides services to individuals and families in Mesa County. The program has local experts, called resource navigators, who provide referrals to different services. Resource navigators stay involved until a person’s needs are met.The ultimate goal is to increase use of community services and simplify access to those services.

Referral management systems sometime come with problems, including poor handoffs, referral errors, lack of followup, difficulty finding the most appropriate services and lack of coordinated care. Grand Valley Connects aims to address those issues while also building a strong data system to assess which referrals are successful and better plan for specific community needs.

“For our partners in the community, this is a tool for you. We take the guesswork out of the referral and application process. Your agency will only have to remember one phone number, and we’ll take care of the rest,” said Jeff Kuhr, executive director of Mesa County Public Health.

To get started, a person completes a simple form at grandvalleyconnects.com or calls (970) 683-2663. Resource navigators will follow up using the format requested — a phone call, text or email. They can meet at Mesa County Public Health or other places where a person feels comfortable. 

Resource navigators will use their experience and network of community resources to assist with referrals and paperwork. The team will stay connected until community members are satisfied all their needs are met. Help is available for English- and Spanish-speaking individuals.

As an employer, it’s truly in your best interest to make sure your employees are thriving in all aspects of their lives. Employees who feel secure at home and in the community are more likely to be productive at work. 

If you notice an employee struggling, helping them address their needs is now easier than ever. Remember, you don’t need to know about all of the resources available in the community to help your employees. You only need to know one website: grandvalleyconnects.com.