Expanding Care and Collaboration: Highlights from the Kings/Tulare SRN Alliance Meeting
Community partners from across Kings and Tulare Counties gathered for the latest Smart Referral Network (SRN) Alliance Meeting, continuing the shared mission of improving care coordination, streamlining referrals, and strengthening cross-sector collaboration. The meeting featured system updates, partner presentations, and an in-depth look at how organizations are using SRN to support families more efficiently.
Tulare County SRN Update
Fedieson Landicho, SRN Coordinator for United Way of Tulare County, shared that Tulare County continues to onboard new organizations into the SRN system. Live demos are currently underway, and the team is actively identifying partners who can benefit from closed‑loop referrals. Agencies interested in joining were encouraged to reach out for onboarding support.
Kings County SRN Update
Maria Valdez, SRN Coordinator for Kings United Way, reported strong engagement across Kings County. Fourteen agencies are now active on the platform, both sending and responding to referrals. The network’s improvements have already reduced referral turnaround times—from nearly 30 days down to approximately two weeks—and the team aims to shorten that window even further.
Maria also highlighted the importance of connecting with SRN for agencies seeking real‑time communication, resource tracking, and enhanced follow‑through for clients.
Spotlight: Project Food Box
The first partner spotlight featured Lissette Navarro, Community Outreach Specialist with Project Food Box, now under Sunterra Health. Lissette shared how the organization provides medically tailored groceries and ready‑made meals to Medi‑Cal members with chronic health conditions.
Key program features include:
Free weekly food boxes for up to 24 weeks, funded through insurance.
Two formats: medically tailored meals or a 15–18 lb produce box with a shelf‑stable item.
Support for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, renal disease, and cancer.
Self-enrollment options that do not require a doctor’s note.
Dietitian assessments every 12 weeks to continue services.
The team emphasized that nutrition plays a critical role in managing chronic health needs—including surprising insights about how nutrient-dense foods can help reduce lead levels over time.
Project Food Box is also an active SRN partner, known for its rapid response times. Lissette expressed enthusiasm about learning to send outbound referrals to ensure no client is left without direction.
Spotlight: 211 Kings County
Next, Yvette Moreno, 211 Coordinator for Kings United Way, provided an overview of 211 services—including the call center, website, mobile app, and text line.
Highlights included:
24/7 access to live specialists, available in over 180 languages.
“Get Connected”—a follow‑up program supporting families with children ages 0–5.
A robust online database featuring housing, utilities, mental health, food resources, and more.
A downloadable monthly food distribution calendar.
Custom icons and navigation tools to simplify access for specific populations.
Yvette also explained how 211 and SRN work hand‑in‑hand: all agency information in SRN is synced with 211, ensuring accurate, centralized resource listings across both counties.
Feature Highlight: Available Resources Tool
Fedieson demonstrated the Available Resources feature within SRN—an admin-level tool allowing agencies to update real‑time resource availability, such as shelter bed counts, program capacity, or voucher quantities.
This function strengthens transparency and reduces misdirected referrals by allowing partners to see which services have current openings.
Maria emphasized how valuable this feature will be for programs with fluctuating limits, such as housing services or home visitation programs.
Provider Feedback: How SRN Fits Into Workflow
A key portion of the meeting was dedicated to provider experiences. Several partners—including KCAO, and other frontline programs—shared real‑world insights:
Many agencies now designate a specific intake specialist to manage SRN referrals.
Response times vary depending on the service: urgent needs may be addressed within 1–2 days, while CalAIM-related services may take longer due to eligibility reviews.
Partners emphasized that clients appreciate knowing they’ve been seen, even if final service delivery takes time.
Organizations expressed strong support for continued collaboration, suggesting a future provider panel to share best practices.
Looking Ahead
The Kings/Tulare SRN Alliance will continue meeting monthly to share updates, strengthen workflows, and welcome new community partners. The next meeting is scheduled for April 16, with additional invitations to follow.
Agencies interested in learning more or requesting a demo can reach out to:
Maria Valdez (Kings County)
Fedieson Landicho (Tulare County)
Together, Kings and Tulare Counties continue to build a more connected, efficient, and equitable network of care—ensuring that every referral leads to real, measurable support for the families who need it most.
