A Kane County-managed system designed to connect people in need to community resources has reached a new milestone of 10,000 referrals, officials announced Thursday.
The Integrated Referral and Intake System, or IRIS, is managed by the Kane County Health Department but used by over 200 local organizations that offer services in areas like mental health, primary health care, dental care, early childhood services, education, substance use, employment, immigration, emergency shelter and basic needs, according to a county news release.
“We are incredibly proud of the growth of the IRIS system in our community and to have reached this significant milestone,” Michael Isaacson, Kane County Health Department’s executive director, said in the release. “This tool has transformed the way local organizations collaborate to ensure individuals and families receive the support they need, when they need it most.”
Before IRIS, there was no standard way to make or receive referrals in Kane County, according to Kane County Health Department Director of Community Health Kim Peterson. Previously, health officials had to refer people in need — who were often also in crisis — to different agencies by simply giving them a phone number to call on their own, she said in the release.
If the person called the number but met roadblocks, such as long wait lists or insurance issues, they would often get frustrated and give up on looking for help, Peterson said.
Using IRIS, community organizations can now easily work together to connect people in need with local services by making, receiving, tracking and responding to referrals, according to the release.
“By streamlining referrals and fostering connections across various sectors, IRIS enhances our ability to provide critical services and strengthens our collective impact on the health and well-being of Kane County residents,” Isaacson said in the release.
The free, web-based service was developed by the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnership and Research and is used in 82 counties across six states, according to the release.
IRIS recently celebrated its own milestone of 100,000 referrals, of which 10% were made by the Kane County IRIS community since the county’s program began in March 2021, the release said.
More information about IRIS can be found at: kanehealth.com/AOK/Pages/Initiatives-Pages/IRIS.aspx
