THURS-088 - Leveraging Technology to Enhance Access to Social Needs Resources and Health Education for Low-resource Communities

Brief Abstract Summary: Discover practical tools to help address social needs gaps and reduce misinformation and fragmented referral systems faced by low-resource communities. We collaborated with over 280 organizations in Houston, Texas, to document their resources and services. We then engaged over 500 residents in six priority communities through Community Health Workers (CHWs) to assess needs and identify relevant wrap-around and health education resources. These informed the development of two interactive dashboards: a wrap-around resource guide (WRG) and a health education repository (HER). CHWs received training and ongoing support to navigate the dashboards, providing sustainable, scalable approaches to strengthen referrals, improve access to accurate health information, and enhance quality of life in low-resource communities.

Detailed abstract description: Navigating health promotion resources is challenging in low-resource communities where residents face barriers of accessibility, misinformation, and fragmented referral systems. This study describes the development of interactive dashboards designed to support Community Health Workers (CHWs) in addressing social needs gaps and misinformation among disadvantaged populations in Houston, Texas. The presentation highlights practical methods for improving community resource referral systems, delivering accurate health information, and advancing health outcomes.

We partnered with over 280 local organizations to document their resources and services. We engaged over 500 residents across six priority communities through CHWs to assess needs and identify relevant wrap-around and health education resources. Weekly stakeholder meetings ensured continuous validation and updating of resources. Resources were initially compiled in Excel and then transformed into two interactive dashboards using Power BI. This enabled CHWs to access and share up-to-date information efficiently. Brief training videos and virtual sessions guided CHWs in integrating the dashboards into outreach workflows, highlighting the role of technology in supporting health literacy and effective communication with residents.

The wrap-around resource guide (WRG) includes over 300 social needs resources across eight communities and 70 zip codes, covering food assistance, housing, transportation, employment, and other critical supports. The health education repository (HER) contains over 150 resources from trusted local and national organizations addressing blood pressure, mental health, nutrition, and physical activity. CHWs completed four hours of targeted training and regular check-ins to strengthen their ability to connect residents with relevant services and information.

This study demonstrates methods for creating sustainable, user-friendly dashboards that enhance health literacy, facilitate effective communication, and promote health equity in disadvantaged and minority populations. The WRG and HER provide replicable approaches for mapping community resources, maintaining accurate information, and supporting evidence-informed interventions that improve access to services and quality of life in underserved communities.