JAMES CITY COUNTY — Conect, a partnership between the James City County Fire Department and James City County Social Services, has been receiving national attention.
The program is geared to reach individuals with supportive services. It serves as a connector for citizens with appropriate resources to aid and support individualized needs in the home.
The program was created in 2018 after multiple calls for falls and lift assists.
Lisa Walker, a fire department captain, helps oversee the program.
“We basically are here to help folks get resources in place so they can age gracefully and stay safe in their home,” Walker explained.
The free program offers fall prevention consultations, chronic illness education and management and a multi-visit patient program. Walker also notes the program tries to get durable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, rollators and walkers, to citizens in need.
“We try to remove whatever barriers we can from a process and we just like to make things happen. There are so many barriers to so many things that are needed. We just try to reduce what we can. We are that person’s support group and network if they need it,” Walker explained.
Walker added county residents have benefited greatly from the program.
“We really get to make a huge impact on people. We really are able to connect with people. We’re making that long-term connection where we can just spend time with someone and we get to understand where they are coming from, what their barriers are, and then we get to really make their life more enjoyable or more fulfilling by creating ways for them to be healthy enough to do the things they have loved doing,” Walker said.
According to Walker, the Conect team often has a family member or friend of the patient present during these meetings and when the team is leaving, that person is usually in tears and thanking them profusely for their help.
Due to the program’s success, Walker and the Conect team have been invited to speak at conferences around the country to talk about the impact the program has had on James City County residents.
Citizens interested in the program can fill out a referral form through the James City County website. Once completed, a Conect staff member will do a home assessment to see what may or may not be needed. The staff member will also conduct a social services assessment to see if other programs may be beneficial to the resident in question.
Walker says that the relationship-building element has been a key to their success.
“We’re not here to judge, we’re here to help,” Walker said. “We really just want people to be able to have a healthier, more enjoyable life, where so many of our clients feel like they can’t because of the circumstances they have been dealt. We’re very proud of what we’ve built.”
While this particular program serves James City County residents, both the City of Williamsburg and York County have similar offerings.
To learn more, go to jamescitycountyva.gov/3719/CONECT.