LANCASTER, Pa. — With the click of a button, Pennsylvanians will now have a new way to access to critical social services in their communities.
On Tuesday, the Shapiro administration launched the brand new Pa. Navigate website. The website is designed to get people connected to different medical and social care services in their communities.
The services on the website include links for medical care, childcare, food and housing services, transportation, and job training.
“Pa. Navigate is groundbreaking," said Dr. Val Arkoosh, secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services. “It is going to be the system that builds bridges between healthcare providers and community-based organizations.”
Vanessa Philbert, the CEO of the Community Action Partnership of Lancaster, said the website makes it easier to access resources. She added that the website will not only allow doctors to easily refer patients to other social services, it will also make people aware of additional services they may qualify for.
“We often think that everyone knows about every service that’s available, but that isn’t true," said Philbert. "There are a lot of neighbors who have different life experiences, and they don’t know that they need that service until they need it.”
State and local leaders hope that more collaborative efforts like PA Navigate will help people in need lead healthier lives.
“It’s that access to healthier food, or better housing, or making sure someone has transportation to get to a medical appointment," said Dr. Arkoosh. "Those are the things that actually support health.”
Anyone who is looking for resources in their community can visit the Pa. Navigate website.