Today, during National Community Health Worker Awareness Week, Southcoast Health celebrates the five-year anniversary of its Southcoast Resource Connect platform, an online local assistance directory that connects patients and community members who are facing difficult life challenges with a wide range of free or low-cost programs across the South Coast region.
Southcoast Resource Connect now provides access to more than 4,500 local programs that provide essential services like access to food, healthcare, financial assistance, housing, caregiver resources, education, job training and transportation.
“We first launched Southcoast Resource Connect early in the COVID-19 pandemic when accessing essential services was even more challenging for many people and their families across the region. Since then, it has helped thousands of people access the help they need,” said Jennifer DiPasqua, MHA, Population Health Specialist at Southcoast Health. “This is a collaborative platform, and we invite all organizations in southeastern Massachusetts that serve those in need to join our network so that more people can learn about and benefit from your services.”
Since launching Southcoast Resource Connect in 2020:
- 54,600 Southcoast Health patients have used the platform
- 4,564 organizations and programs in the South Coast region have joined the Resource Connect network
- 315 new local programs have been added in the past year, including 186 added since January 2025
- Patients using Southcoast Resource Connect most commonly search for health programs, which include outpatient treatment and counseling, followed by housing and food programs.
“Southcoast Resource Connect is an important component in our mission to improve the health and wellness of our communities by reaching patients who face significant barriers to care,” said David O. McCready, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southcoast Health. “Social determinants of health like homelessness and food insecurity are – unfortunately – still quite prevalent in our region, and facilitating connections to organizations that can help is an important step toward improving the wellbeing of the communities we serve.”
“To make a positive impact on someone’s life, you have to directly connect with them and help them get the support they need,” said Reverend David A. Lima, Executive Minister of the Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford. “Southcoast Health’s Resource Connect platform is an innovative and effective way to reach those who most urgently need these services, and I know of many people in the region who benefitted from this program. It’s used not only by patients, but also case management and outreach workers to help connect the people they serve to the services they need most.”
Southcoast Resource Connect continues Southcoast Health’s longstanding commitment to connecting people and families with local assistance providers. In 2015, Southcoast Health launched Behavioral Health Connect, an online directory helping people in our region access a wide range of mental health and other community services. This program evolved into Southcoast Resource Connect in 2020.
Massachusetts residents can visit Southcoast Resource Connect to learn about local organizations offering free or low-cost services.
Massachusetts-based organizations that provide free or low-cost resources and services for people in need can join the Southcoast Resource Connect network by selecting “Claim Programs” at Southcoast Resource Connect. Please contact southcoastgivesback@southcoast.org with any questions.
Southcoast Health 
