Kings-Tulare Smart Referral Network Alliance Meeting | September 17, 2026
On September 17, 2026, community partners from across Kings and Tulare counties gathered virtually for the monthly Kings/Tulare Smart Referral Network (SRN) Alliance Meeting. Facilitated by Maria Valdez and Fedieson Landicho, the meeting featured regional SRN updates, a presentation from John Adams of Kings United Way, an interactive partner panel discussing real-world SRN referral workflows, and community announcements from agencies throughout the region.
Welcome & County Updates
The meeting opened with updates from both counties regarding ongoing Smart Referral Network activities.
Tulare County SRN Update
Fedieson Landicho, SRN Coordinator for Tulare County, announced that the Kings-Tulare Homeless Alliance is being onboarded into the Smart Referral Network. The addition will help strengthen referral pathways and improve coordination between homelessness response efforts and community service providers throughout the region.
Kings County SRN Update
Maria Valdez, Kings County SRN Coordinator, provided an update on the county's transition to the SRN 2.0 platform. Staff continue to work closely with participating agencies to ensure partners are comfortable navigating the upgraded system and utilizing its available features.
Agency Spotlight: Kings United Way
The meeting's featured presentation was delivered by John Adams, Resource Development Coordinator for Kings United Way, who introduced participants to the organization's employee giving and workplace campaign opportunities.
Supporting Community Programs Through Employee Giving
Accessible Community Impact: Employees can contribute small amounts through payroll deductions, creating a simple and sustainable way to support local services without making a large one-time donation.
Local Investment: Contributions remain within Kings County and may support a variety of local nonprofit partners addressing food insecurity, housing challenges, youth development, senior services, emergency assistance, and recovery programs.
Flexible Giving Options: Donors may adjust their contributions at any time and can choose to support specific nonprofit organizations or causes that are meaningful to them.
Community Partnerships: The presentation highlighted several United Way-affiliated organizations, including KCAO, Salvation Army Hanford, Kings Partnership for Prevention, Kings County Commission on Aging, CASA of Kings County, Lemoore Christian Aid, Champions Recovery, and other agencies serving local residents.
SRN Community Partner Panel: Referral Workflow & Partner Experience
Representatives from KCAO Child Care Assistance Program and 211 Kings County participated in a discussion about their experiences onboarding, navigating, and utilizing the Smart Referral Network in their day-to-day work.
KCAO Child Care Assistance Program
Represented by Patsy Douthat and Maria Silva, the Child Care Assistance Program shared that staff initially found the platform intimidating, but quickly discovered it was easy to navigate after receiving training and hands-on experience. Team members now use SRN to document referrals and connect families to community resources beyond child care services.
Growing Resource Awareness: Staff reported that SRN has introduced them to additional programs and services available throughout the community, helping them identify new referral opportunities for families.
Implementation Challenges: The team noted that obtaining client consent remains one of the most common barriers when sending referrals through the platform. Despite this challenge, staff continue to increase their use of the system and explore opportunities for internal referrals across KCAO programs.
211 Kings County
Represented by Yvette Moreno and Laura Gastelo, 211 Kings County discussed how SRN has strengthened the referral process by providing visibility into referral outcomes and client connections.
Enhanced Follow-Up: Unlike traditional information-and-referral services, SRN allows staff to view referral outcomes and better understand whether community members successfully connect with services.
Closed-Loop Coordination: Panelists shared that the platform helps identify service gaps, improve provider communication, and create a more complete picture of each client's journey from initial contact to service connection.
Value of Partner Participation: Both panel organizations emphasized that the network becomes stronger as more community agencies participate, creating additional referral options and improving coordinated care across counties.
SRN 2.0 Transition Reminders
Before closing the panel discussion, coordinators addressed questions regarding SRN 2.0 account activation and onboarding. Partners were encouraged to contact their county SRN coordinators if they had not yet received an activation email. Participants were also advised to have their multi-factor authentication application installed before beginning account activation.
Community Round Table & Partner Announcements
Community partners shared several upcoming events and collaboration opportunities:
Dolly Parton Day – September 25: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Kings County announced plans to celebrate literacy and community engagement through local activities and awareness efforts tied to Dolly Parton Day.
Champions Recovery Fest – September 26: Champions Recovery invited partners to attend its 19th Annual Recovery Fest at Centennial Park, featuring community resources, family activities, music, and outreach services.
UCP Trunk or Treat – October 10: United Cerebral Palsy encouraged organizations to participate in its annual Trunk or Treat event at the College of the Sequoias Hanford Campus.
Looking Ahead
The meeting concluded with appreciation for all participating agencies and presenters. Through continued collaboration, SRN partners remain committed to strengthening referral pathways, improving service coordination, and ensuring residents throughout Kings and Tulare counties can more easily access the resources they need.
