This story is taken from Milwaukee Magazine‘s 2019 Charitable Giving Guide. We found 20 deserving nonprofits for you to consider supporting this holiday season.
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Health Connections has a niche: it’s not too big (there are only 1,100 patients on its roster), but the agency is well connected with the rest of the Milwaukee healthcare and social service system. So, for example, if patients need a referral for housing or substance abuse treatment, Health Connections is on the job.
The Glendale-based medical clinic provides clinical care and social service referral and coordination for patients throughout the greater Milwaukee area. Their particular focus is vulnerable populations, including socioeconomically disadvantaged people, youth, LGBTQ, those living with HIV and Hep C, and seniors.
Health Connections’ work is supported through insurance reimbursement, grants and donations. Its staff of 10 includes providers, front desk staff and medical assistants.
“Many of our care coordination services are not financially covered, but we provide the services anyway,” says founder and CEO Ericka Sinclair. “We know the importance of teaching people how to navigate this broken healthcare system.” For example, Health Connections staff often need to explain how insurance deductibles and co-pays work.
A niche within the Health Connections niche is serving people in the transgender community. “Even those who have private insurance avoid healthcare systems that do not recognize them for how they see themselves,” Sinclair says. “They feel disrespected. When they come here, we’re very respectful.”
