ABQ Times

The inaugural "Unite Us" Summit took place in Albuquerque, drawing around 100 professionals from 50 different organizations. These included community service providers, government agencies, and healthcare providers. The event was organized in partnership with Bernalillo County, the City of Albuquerque, community leaders, and Unite Us staff.

Unite Us is a platform designed to improve support systems for unhoused and vulnerable communities by connecting healthcare providers, non-profits, and other key partners through a single system. This unified approach aims to streamline care continuity and simplify referral processes.

Sarah Spain, Bernalillo County Transition Planning Services Manager, highlighted the benefits of the platform: “Unite Us creates a continuity of care between providers, ensuring the client feels heard and at the center of an organization instead of walking through each door and having to tell their story repeatedly.”

Held at Los Duranes Community Center, summit attendees registered for the platform while learning about its features through panel discussions and networking opportunities. Ellen Braden, Health, Housing and Homelessness Deputy Director expressed gratitude towards participants: “We are grateful to our partners and the community for making this inaugural summit a success,” she said. “We are excited to be a part of a better, more streamlined continuum of care that serves our community.”

Mayor Tim Keller emphasized the collaborative nature of the event: “This is a powerful example of our community working together to build a system that supports the most vulnerable,” he stated. “Through this summit, providers and nonprofits continue building a system of care that connects those in need to services.”

Wayne Lindstrom Ph.D., representing Bernalillo County added: “We are gratified by today's strong participation and look forward to full implementation of the Unite Us platform,” underscoring the importance of collaboration for effective care coordination.

Due to high demand with registration reaching capacity quickly two additional summits have been planned. Further details will be announced as they become available.