What is the Community Connection Program (CCP)?

The CCP helps close the gap between medical care and patients’ social needs by providing screening, referrals, and help finding community resources.

Our Patients' Potential Needs

  • Access to food
  • Stable and quality housing
  • Reliable transportation
  • Utilities
  • Safety (interpersonal violence)
  • Health literacy

A community health worker (CHW) can support patients by helping them find the right care and community resources to stay healthy. CHWs also make health information easy to understand so patients can make informed decisions about their care. When patients get the help they need, they can make real changes in their lives, get fair access to care, and help build a healthier community.

Definitions

  • Social Determinants of Health. Conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes - CDC, 2021
  • Health Literacy. The degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others - Healthy People 2030, 2020
  • Health Equity. The state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health - CDC, 2024

Inaugural Celebration of National Community Health Worker Awareness Week at Reading Hospital

In August 2025, the Health Equity team celebrated the first ever National Community Health Worker (CHW) Awareness Week. Throughout the week, the team hosted events to show the important role CHWs play in supporting patients and strengthening our community.

Intern with the Community Connection Program

Learn more about our Pathways Programs, created to expose area students to the many healthcare careers available in our system.

Pathways Program

What's Being Said About CCP

"I’ve been struggling for a long time and had trouble finding help, thank you so much for calling me and providing assistance." - Reading Hospital CCP Patient

"We deeply appreciate the open communication between Reading Hospital medical staff and our agency. It is one of the finest examples of collective community impact I have experienced in our community." - LuAnn Oatman, President, Berks Encore

"Working with CCP and all the partners within the community has made serving patients and clients most effectively and efficiently. This program addresses SDoH among the neediest members of our community and allows for a “soft-handoff” to other service providers." - Nancy Boudreau, Deputy Director, Berks Community Action Program (BCAP)

"The CCP team is highly skilled in addressing social determinants of health and are valued for their dedication to improving the health and lives of our patients and community." - Brian Lahmann, Chair, Emergency Medicine, Reading Hospital

CCP In the News