In rural communities like ours, we pride ourselves on looking out for one another. Yet, when it comes to navigating health and social services – especially for people living with limited resources – many residents still struggle to find the right help at the right time.
A new regional effort aims to change that.
Community Connections has launched Southwest Colorado Cares serving Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma and San Juan counties. The goal is simple but ambitious: make it easier for people to find local resources and for local agencies to work together to better meet residents’ needs.
Anyone who has tried to help a friend or family member apply for benefits, locate a service or get transportation knows that the system can be confusing. Services are scattered, disconnected or hard to navigate. And in rural areas, distance alone can be a barrier. SWCC is stepping in to knit these pieces together.
The initiative grew out of the La Plata Healthcare Improvement Coalition, sponsored by the League of Women Voters. Local leaders spent months identifying gaps in care. Their conclusion: We don’t just need to fill gaps in services – we need better coordination among the services we already have.
At the center of this effort is a public resource directory to help residents and providers understand the scope of services available across our region. For rural communities, where word-of-mouth is often the main source of information, having a clear, accessible, up-to-date resource like this could be transformative.
SWCC will go a step further by creating a Care Partner Network bringing together nonprofits, social service agencies, health care and other service providers. A shared system will facilitate referrals so that care partners can work more like a virtual team, supporting a person’s or family’s whole needs. Our initial efforts will focus on people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid – one of the groups most affected when systems are confusing or disconnected.
By applying principles of universal design, the benefits of SWCC will extend to the entire population. When agencies coordinate, families get answers faster. When providers know that a patient received the services to which they were referred, they avoid duplicating efforts. When residents know where to turn, they get help before a crisis hits.
In a region where long drives complicate daily life, whole‑person care isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a necessity. And it starts with awareness. Many don’t realize what support exists, or whether they’re eligible for services. Others give up after hitting roadblocks or dead ends.
SWCC offers a way for us to do better when we work together.
As this initiative takes shape over the coming year, local organizations and community members will all have a role to play. Whether you’re part of a nonprofit, clinic, school, church or simply someone who wants to help, knowing where to turn is the first step.
In rural Colorado, we know that strong communities aren’t built by any one group or agency – they’re built by all of us, pulling in the same direction.
Doug McCarthy and Dayna Kranker are co-directors of Southwest Colorado Cares and employed by Community Connections, the state-designated Medicaid case management agency for Southwest Colorado serving people with disabilities since 1985. For questions or comments about SWCC, contact connect@swcoloradocares.org.
