Connect NSV Network

Connect NSV logo

In the summer of 2019, Connect NSV was developed through a relationship with a company called Unite Us® through the support of a collaborative effort between George Mason University and Valley Health. Connect NSV is a coordinated referral network that seamlessly connects community members to services while allowing service providers to communicate in real time about their shared clients' care and track outcomes together.

Connect NSV is powered by Unite Us, a technology company that builds coordinated care networks of health and human service providers. The company empowers both medical and social service providers to work together, integrating health and social care. With Unite Us, providers across sectors can send and receive secure referrals, track every person’s total health journey, and report on tangible outcomes across a full range of services in a centralized, cohesive, and collaborative ecosystem. This social infrastructure helps communities transform their ability to track outcomes, improve health and measure impact at scale.

All Connect NSV community partners are trained to administer the SBIRT standardized screening and to send referrals through the Unite Us platform. No longer restricted to a clinical setting, these SBIRT screenings and referrals are successfully happening within the community at the grassroots level. Partners can engage, respond, and meaningfully track what happens to their clients.

United Way NSV started Connect NSV with a pilot group of five agencies – Faithworks, Valley Assistance Network, Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition, the Dr. Terry Sinclair Health Clinic and Valley Health.

In 10 months, the network has grown to 19 agencies with 50 users. It is boasting incredible outcomes: agencies have made 549 in-network referrals, with 238 (43%) of referrals being resolved cases. 

Valley Assistance Network (VAN) serves as the coordination center for the Connect NSV network and is a driver in getting new agencies engaged and trained. The Unite Us software allowed VAN and other partners to quickly and efficiently serve hundreds of clients during the first few months of the COVID-19 outbreak. 

VAN is also leading the way in performing SBIRT’s. To date, VAN has completed just over 350 screenings. One hundred thirty-four people tested positive for possible substance use or depression. Of the 134 who tested positive, nearly 60% (79 people) accepted a referral to Valley Health for a brief intervention and possible services or treatment. This means that 79 people – who did not reach out for mental health or substance use services – were given access to treatment.

  1. Abbacare
  2. AIDS Response Effort, Inc.
  3. Blue Ridge Housing Network, Inc.
  4. Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington
  5. ChildSafe Center - CAC
  6. F.R.E.E. Foundation NSV
  7. Faithworks, Inc.
  8. Highland Food Pantry
  9. Horizon Goodwill 
  10. Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area
  11. New Eve Maternity Home
  12. Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition
  13. NWWORKS, Inc.
  14. Shenandoah Compassionate Care
  15. The Dr. Terry Sinclair Health ClinicThe Salvation Army - Winchester 
  16. Valley Assistance Network
  17. Valley Health
  18. Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter (WATTS)
  19. Connect NSV is also linked to the ServingTogether Network, a program to help veterans and their families.  Read more about the new partnership here.

More Information on Connect NSV and Unite Us:

If you are interested in becoming a network partner, contact Jennifer Hall, Director of Community Engagement - jhall@unitedwaynsv.org