Highmark Delaware launches social care network Aunt Bertha

Due to the increased need for access to social service resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, Highmark Delaware and Highmark Health Options are implementing an online social care network, Aunt Bertha, which serves as a referral tool for urgent needs.

Aunt Bertha connects people to resources that can assist with addressing needs such as food, housing and transportation, and is available to all members and patients served across Delaware and nationally.

“Many Delawareans are facing challenging situations due to COVID-19, and Highmark Delaware and Highmark Health Options continue to seek ways in which to alleviate the stress, fear and uncertainty that comes with that,” said Nick Moriello, Highmark Delaware president.

Highmark Delaware, Highmark Health Options and their affiliated organizations had been working to launch Aunt Bertha but accelerated the process because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent social needs of the community.

As Delaware’s nonprofit community is working extremely hard to address long-standing, current and emerging needs, Highmark Delaware and Highmark Health Options team members hope this tool can support those efforts, and help those who are unfamiliar with or having trouble navigating the system. The Highmark Health enterprise is providing open access to this service to support connections to urgent resources, particularly for those who may have lost sources of income due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“We expect Aunt Bertha to be a welcome tool and resource to assist those in need in a very impactful and effective manner,” said Todd Graham, Highmark Health Options president.

Aunt Bertha allows users to find nearby community benefit organizations, making it easier for people to access social services in their neighborhoods, for nonprofits to coordinate their efforts, and for healthcare providers to integrate social care into their work. The directory contains geographic-specific information on social service agencies and community benefit organizations across the United States. COVID-19-specific resources also will be listed on the Aunt Bertha site. Once a ZIP code is entered, online users can filter for specific needs. There are no income restraints or financial costs to use Aunt Bertha. In addition to public access, providers, social workers and care coordinators across the Highmark Health enterprise can access information and recommend services.

To access Aunt Bertha, Highmark Delaware members can go to www.HighmarkAnswers.com and visit the Medical and Community Resources. Delaware Health Options members can access the directory at www.HighmarkHealthOptions.com.

The Aunt Bertha initiative is one of many led by Highmark’s social determinants of health task force. Highmark has been addressing social needs that are barriers to good health for decades. In the last five years alone, Highmark has committed nearly half a billion dollars to strategic community partnerships, workforce and economic development, and access to care. Most recently, Highmark announced $2 million in grants to organizations focused on helping people in need across Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aunt Bertha’s mission is to connect all people in need and the programs that serve them with dignity and ease. Beyond its core search functionality, the company delivers enterprise solutions for identifying social needs, targeting interventions, closing the loop on social care referrals, and delivering rich reporting. The company serves more than 175 customers across the United States, including healthcare systems, payers, higher education, housing developments, and more.

For more information, go to www.auntbertha.com.