Our Story
Built for Illinois. Built for Community.
We are an operator-led social care network founded on the belief that Medicaid members deserve more than clinical care — they deserve the community support that makes health possible.
Our Mission
Connecting People to the Support That Makes Health Possible
Social Care Partners of Illinois exists to close the gap between what Illinois Medicaid members need and what the healthcare system alone can provide. We do this by building and operating a statewide network of trusted community organizations — connecting members to housing, food, health, family, and justice-involved support through coordinated, accountable care.
We are not a referral clearinghouse. We are an operator — embedding care coordinators in communities, building relationships with members, and holding ourselves accountable to outcomes that matter: stable housing, food security, reduced hospitalizations, and stronger families.
What We Stand For
Our Values
Community-First
We believe the people closest to the problem are closest to the solution. Our network is built around community-based organizations that have earned the trust of the populations they serve.
Whole-Person Care
Health is shaped by housing, food, relationships, and opportunity — not just clinical encounters. We address the full picture of what it takes for a person to be well.
Equity-Driven
Illinois Medicaid members face compounded barriers rooted in systemic inequity. Our network is designed to reduce disparities, not replicate them.
Accountable Outcomes
We are committed to measuring what matters — member outcomes, not just referral volume. Our data infrastructure supports continuous improvement across the network.
The Illinois Context
Illinois Medicaid & the Social Care Network Mandate
Illinois Medicaid serves over 3.5 million residents — nearly one in four Illinoisans. The majority of Medicaid members are enrolled in managed care organizations (MCOs) that are increasingly required to address social determinants of health as part of their contracts with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS).
In 2022, Illinois HFS launched its Social Care Network (SCN) initiative, requiring MCOs to contract with certified social care networks to screen members for social needs and connect them to community-based services. Social Care Partners of Illinois was established to serve as one of those certified networks — providing the infrastructure, partnerships, and care coordination capacity that MCOs need to meet this mandate.
Our network operates under a value-based model: we are accountable not just for referrals made, but for outcomes achieved. We report to MCO partners on housing placements, food access, care plan completion, and member engagement — and we continuously improve based on what the data tells us.
Our History
How We Got Here
2021
Coalition Founded
We began organizing a regional coalition, convening health system leaders, community-based organizations, and Illinois Medicaid experts around a shared commitment to whole-person care.
2022
Coalition Governance Established
We formalized the coalition's governance structure, establishing the decision-making framework and collaborative agreements that would guide the network's growth.
2023
Community Care Network Funded and Launched
We secured significant public funding to build a community care network for Medicaid members and uninsured adults, launching coordinated service lines across housing, food security, justice-involved support, and behavioral health.
2024
Enhanced Care Management in Action
We implemented our enhanced care management model across 18 communities with 22 partner organizations, connecting members to social support and reducing avoidable emergency department visits and hospital stays.
2025
Cross-Sector Data Sharing Formalized
We executed a network data-sharing agreement linking clinical and social service data across our partner network, with custom integrations for roughly 50 community agencies.
2026
Statewide Network Expansion
We expanded into a statewide social care network of community partners, broadening food access through medically tailored meals and other nutrition supports across Illinois.
Ready to join the network?
Community organizations, healthcare providers, and social service agencies across Illinois are invited to partner with us.