The Hidden Work of Staying Enrolled in Federal Benefits
By Regina Agyemang – When we talk about access to public benefits, the conversation often centers on enrolling individuals in programs such as SNAP, WIC, or energy assistance. While this is the important first step, it does not capture the full picture. For many individuals and families, the real challenge begins after they are approved. […]
The Next Frontier: AI, Equity, and the Future of Public Benefits
Read the article Click here Millions of Americans miss out on health and food assistance benefits due to fragmented systems and complex enrollment processes. This piece explores how Link Health, in partnership with the AI for Impact program, is combining AI tools with human navigators to rethink how public benefits are delivered in healthcare settings. […]
Where We Live Matters for Our Health
By Regina Agyemang – When people think about health, they often think about doctors, medications, and hospitals. While medical care is important, many of the factors that shape health exist outside the walls of a clinic. One of the most powerful but often overlooked determinants of health is housing. Where people live influences their ability […]
Streamlining Government Assistance Enrollment: Demographic Analysis of In-Person and Remote Models
Read the article Click here The damaging effects of poverty on physical and psychological health are well-categorized, yet billions of dollars of government assistance go unspent each year. Convoluted applications, limited education about benefits, and understaffed administering agencies hinder the mobilization of this aid. Link Health, a Boston- and Houston-based nonprofit, seeks to dismantle […]
Women’s Health Beyond the Clinic
By Regina Agyemang – Women’s health outcomes are shaped by more than medical care alone. Access to stable housing, nutritious food, healthcare coverage, childcare, and financial security all play a significant role in determining whether women and their families can thrive. These factors, known as the social determinants of health, shape everything from pregnancy outcomes […]
Health Literacy Is a Right—Not a Privilege
By Regina Agyemang – In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, health literacy has become more crucial than ever. Amid a surge of misinformation and a complex political climate, patients often find themselves navigating a maze of conflicting health messages and fluctuating access to public benefits. This environment underscores the importance of health literacy as a […]
AI can’t solve public benefits access, but it can help
By Karie Shen – In East Boston, Link Health works with hundreds of patients, helping them to enroll in public benefits programs, like SNAP. Most of them are Spanish-speakers. Arianna Doss, a Patient Navigator and student at MIT, has been working with Link Health for about one year. For her, one of the biggest barriers […]
Clinic-based SNAP enrollment as a strategy to strengthen food security
Read the article Click here Credit authorship contribution statement Matthew C. Guido: Conceptualization, Project administration, Supervision, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. Madeline P. Maier: Conceptualization, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. Alister F. Martin: Conceptualization, Supervision, Validation, Writing – review & editing.
The Hidden Hunger Crisis on Massachusetts Campuses
Read the article Click here Massachusetts is home to some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the world, yet behind the iconic buildings and academic prestige, food insecurity is reshaping the student experience. Recent data reveals that one in three college students in the Commonwealth faces food insecurity, with many skipping meals, rationing […]
Mayor Mamdani Announces New Appointments, Including Commissioners for Health and Correction
Read the article Click here Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced five new appointments to lead core agencies across city government and advance the administration’s vision for a safer and more affordable New York City. Mayor Mamdani appointed Dr. Alister Martin as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Stanley […]