Columbus City Attorney and CareSource Partner on City’s Innovative Diversion Program for Nonviolent Offenders

January 14, 2021. COLUMBUS – Today, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein, the Healthcare Collaborative of Greater Columbus (HCGC) and CareSource, a nationally recognized nonprofit health plan, announced that they are partnering on the City’s diversion program, which works to identify the root causes of crimes and prioritize defendants’ basic needs over jail time.

Last year, the City Attorney’s office, in partnership with HCGC’s Central Ohio Pathways HUB model, implemented the nation’s first-of-its-kind diversion program to connect those accused of nonviolent misdemeanor offenses to community services. The City aims to understand the underlying reasons for a crime and then develops individualized plans to get offenders help, rather than sending them to jail. Once defendants complete the program, facilitated by HUB Care Coordination Agencies and Community Health Workers (CHWs), their court records are sealed.

“By partnering with HCGC’s Central Ohio Pathways HUB and now CareSource, we’re streamlining our successful program and connecting defendants to programs that may already be available to them in order to address the challenges that led them to nonviolent crime,” said Klein. “Our diversion program increases community safety, seeks justice for victims and the public and provides defendants the tools they need to change their behaviors in lieu of incarceration.”

“Expansion of these services across all of municipal court with support from Wellness First, LLC and Franklin County Public Health, two coordination agencies operating within the Central Ohio Pathways HUB model, as well as a close working relationship for CareSource clients is exciting,” said Jenelle Hoseus, HUB Executive Director. “The Central Ohio Pathways HUB model takes all clients in our work, regardless of their insurance provider. But we appreciate more than ever the commitment CareSource is showing to this program and this population, and City Attorney Klein’s leadership continues to make a difference for so many. Together, we are all aligning risks people face with needed support services.”

The City Attorney’s Office the HUB and CareSource, will work together to connect individuals in the diversion program with resources related to health care, mental health and job opportunities. Of the 88 successful participants, less than 10% have recommitted a crime.

“CareSource is excited to partner with Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein’s office and the Central Ohio Pathways HUB to support their diversion program, which addresses barriers to an individual’s ability to thrive,” said Tia Marcel Moretti, Director of Behavioral Health, CareSource Ohio Market. “This partnership reflects CareSource’s mission and values while helping keep people healthy and safe in their communities.”

“CareSource Life Services offers services and support that can pave the way from where the member is to where the member wants to be,” added Moretti. “Life Services offers tools to help balance work and life and to remove barriers that stand in the way of reaching the member's dreams. JobConnect—the workforce development component of Life Services—has a goal to assist members to have full-time, long-term employment that will help the members and their families reach self-sufficiency.”

About HCGC and the Central Ohio Pathways HUB
As one of over 30 Regional Health Improvement Collaboratives (RHICs) across the country, the Healthcare Collaborative of Greater Columbus is s a neutral, safe space collective impact 501c3 nonprofit that brings together providers, hospitals, social service agencies, public and private insurance, employers, government, public health, patients, and consumers to improve the quality, delivery, and value of healthcare and the overall health for all people in the Columbus region. HCGC provides data, facilitation, quality improvement coaching and technical assistance to its partners in Central Ohio. HCGC’s Central Ohio Pathways HUB has been in operation since January of 2019, began serving clients in March 2019 and became nationally certified in November 2019. HUB CHWs are employed by 12 agencies in Central Ohio, each sub-contracted with the HUB, to operate a standardized risk mitigation/care coordination model. HUB agencies include Franklin County Public Health, Union County Public Health, OhioHealth, The Columbus Urban League, The Breathing Association, Wellness First, LLC, CelebrateOne, Physician’s CareConnection, PrimaryOne Health, Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers, Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services-ETSS, and Urban Strategies. The HUB enables these agencies and their CHWs to reduce variation and duplication of services and be reimbursed for outcomes by completing “pathways.” Pathways address all aspects of health, social services (including food, transportation and housing needs) as well as adult/career education, insurance and employment attainment. For more information, visit: www.hcgc.org.