In April 2021, the Camden Coalition’s National Center for Complex Health and Social Needs initiative convened representatives from five ecosystems of care from around the country to participate in an 18-month Ecosystems Learning Collaborative. The Ecosystems Learning Collaborative was an action-oriented opportunity for teams to learn from peers and technical experts about how to rapidly expand and sustain cross-sector partnerships to address the needs of individuals with complex health and social needs in their communities.

This is the story of how one ecosystem of care — in York, Pennsylvania — was developed.

Ecosystem participants

• WellSpan Health
• WellSpan Philhaven Specialized Treatment and Recovery Team (START)
• Community Action Recovery Diversion (CARD)
• York County Department of Probation Services
• York County District Attorney’s Office
• York County Reentry Coalition 

Community of focus

Individuals and families involved in the county-wide criminal legal continuum (e.g., pre-trial, jail, parole, probation) who also have behavioral health and social needs.

Ecosystem aim

Ending chronic use of the emergency department and preventing escalated criminal legal involvement, with a focus on improving physical and behavioral health.

View the case study to learn how this ecosystem started, its successes and challenges, advice for others looking to build an ecosystem, and next steps.

Explore the other ecosystem case studies

• Allegheny, Pennsylvania
• Camden, New Jersey
• San Diego, California
• Spartanburg, South Carolina