Study Group: How can listening to participants improve programs to address social needs?

​Many social programs struggle to connect participants with resources.  Only 30-80% of the people eligible for health-promoting social welfare programs actually receive the supports.  Some health care provider-sponsored programs to address social drivers of health (SDOH) reach even fewer of the intended recipients.  The reasons range from byzantine bureaucratic requirements to inadequate digital and transportation resources to access services.

One strategy to mitigate such barriers is to understand them from the participants’ vantage point and use their perspectives to improve program results.  This study group will present frameworks, case studies, and practical recommendations about listening to participants and translating their insights into actions and program improvement. 
The panelists will discuss:
Frameworks for “patient-centered” health careLessons from SDOH program participant researchUnderstanding patients’ reluctance to enroll in a free program to help them avoid unnecessary visits to the emergency roomLeveraging the user experience to increase access to a social safety net program.Panelists:
Alexandra Schweitzer , Senior Fellow, Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business & Government, Harvard Kennedy SchoolAlex Denniston, User StrategistJustin Lai, Design Researcher, Formerly with the California Office of Digital Innov