SOMOS: Weaving a safety net for vulnerable communities
SOMOS’ mission extends beyond healthcare delivery. We understand that health can’t thrive in isolation, so we tackle the root causes of inequity by addressing social determinants of health alongside medical needs.
SOMOS is a Social Care Network with a focus on addressing health inequities, providing solutions for many social care needs for those chronically sick, hardest to reach, and persistently left out.
Imagine struggling with food insecurity, inadequate housing, and limited transportation, all while navigating complex healthcare systems. These are the realities faced by many, creating a cycle of disadvantages, and impacting health outcomes. SOMOS steps in, partnering with community organizations to provide nutritional support, secure safe housing, and bridge transportation gaps, removing these barriers to well-being.
Empowerment, not just treatment, drives our approach. Through culturally competent education and accessible services, we equip individuals to manage chronic conditions and prioritize preventative measures. This focus on value-based care resonates with the Medicaid redesign’s goals, ensuring efficient and effective healthcare delivery for optimal health outcomes.
SOMOS recognizes that addressing health disparities is not just a moral obligation, but a crucial investment in the city’s prosperity. Studies reveal a stark 30% higher death rate in disadvantaged neighborhoods, a gap we fight to close every day. By actively reaching vulnerable, underserved New Yorkers, eliminating communication barriers through multilingual support, and tackling inequities across social determinants and healthcare, SOMOS builds bridges to a healthier future for all.
To break down these systemic inequities and fully address whole-person health needs with a preventative focus, SOMOS engages in community-based public health engagement and education with a trusted workforce that is part of the fabric of the community. SOMOS establishes partnerships with local religious institutions and community-based organizations for comprehensive social assistance for which community members are eligible including housing, food assistance, etc.
SOMOS believes its efforts and those of its network providers since DSRIP ended have been critical in providing stellar medical and behavioral health services to those in underserved communities, as the State’s only provider-led, nonprofit, community-based integrated health care network.
SOMOS’s public partners, New York City and New York State and other entities turn to SOMOS for insight in developing approaches on navigating healthcare issues and health crises affecting New Yorkers. Whether it’s guidance on how to manage chronic respiratory diseases through climate disasters such as the Canadian wildfires that in June 2023 briefly altered New York City’s air quality to be the second-worst air pollution levels globally or Back-to-School health preparations.
Through this inclusive, collaborative, and holistic approach, SOMOS weaves a safety net that empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and ultimately saves lives. We believe that when healthcare meets social care, health becomes a shared success story, woven into the very fabric of a more equitable, healthier New York.
