Community Service
Harris Health System - Gold Card
If you live in Harris County and don't have health insurance, you can get a Gold Card for free or low-cost healthcare. This card helps you see doctors, get medicine, and go to the hospital when you need care.
“Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love. ”
— Rainer Maria RilkeRelated
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The Future of Food Banking: Understanding Income, Food Insecurity, and Health
“ The Future of Food Banking Brian Greene 9.17.18 Origins of Food Banking When I first started in food banking some 30 years ago, the mission seemed simple: end hunger. We truly thought we could end...”
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The Change Lab 2025 Annual Report: Building Civic Infrastructure Through Community Connection
“ THE CHANGE LAB A community of practice 2025 ANNUAL REPORT THE CHANGE LABthechangelab.net · A fiscally sponsored project of Impact Hub Houston · Page 1 of 2 We connect by serving and learning toget...”
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Social Connection in America: 2025 Survey Report on Community Bonds and Well-Being
“ 2025 Survey Report About This Project This survey will catalyze a broad and lasting impact—transforming how we define, prioritize, and support social connection in America. This survey is led by D...”
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From the Library
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Houston Health Groups Work Together for Better Care AccessThe Health Foundation of South Florida shows how different groups work together to make healthcare better for everyone. They share stories about doctors, community groups, and organizations partnering to help people who have trouble getting medical care. The foundation supports programs that train healthcare workers, help pregnant women, provide legal help for health problems, and bring care to homeless people. They focus on helping Black communities and other groups that often face barriers to healthcare. The foundation also works with local businesses and schools to create jobs and economic opportunities that improve community health. Their 'Partners in Action' page highlights successful collaborations between hospitals, community centers, schools, and nonprofits. These partnerships show how working together can break down barriers that prevent people from getting the healthcare they need. The stories include examples of mobile health clinics, maternal health programs, workforce training, and innovative approaches to addressing social factors that affect health.
Community Groups Win Big Changes for Better Jobs, Housing, and SchoolsThe Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) helps community groups across America make big changes that improve people's lives. Their biggest wins include: helping over 16,000 people in Texas, Arizona, and Louisiana get better-paying jobs that average $40,000 per year through job training programs. They built over 4,500 affordable homes in poor neighborhoods in New York, Baltimore, and Washington DC, completely changing these areas. In Texas, they helped improve schools by getting parents more involved, which raised test scores by 15-19%. They created the first 'living wage' law in Baltimore that requires city workers to earn enough money to support a family. They helped pass Massachusetts' universal health care law that gave 500,000 people health insurance - this became the model for the national Affordable Care Act. Along the Texas-Mexico border, they got over $2 billion invested to bring clean water and sewers to poor communities. These victories show how organized communities can win major improvements in jobs, housing, education, wages, health care, and basic services.
McKesson Fights for Safer Health Technology RulesMcKesson is a healthcare company that wants to change how the government regulates health technology. They believe current rules for health IT are outdated and based on laws from 40+ years ago. Health information technology helps doctors avoid medical mistakes and provides better care at lower costs. McKesson wants new rules that focus on risk levels - treating high-risk technology differently from low-risk technology. They have been working with Congress and government agencies since 2012 to create smarter regulations. The company has testified before Congress multiple times and submitted detailed comments to federal agencies. They support specific bills like the SOFTWARE Act and PROTECT Act that would create better oversight for health technology. McKesson argues that health IT should be regulated differently from traditional medical devices because they work differently. Their goal is to protect patient safety while still allowing innovation in healthcare technology. The company provides detailed documentation including congressional testimony, letters to lawmakers, and regulatory comments showing their advocacy efforts. This represents a major corporate effort to influence healthcare policy at the federal level.
Better Healthcare Through Tech That Helps Patients Know Their OptionsMcKesson, a major healthcare company, wants to use technology to help patients make better healthcare decisions. Right now, many healthcare systems don't share information well with each other, making it hard for patients to know what treatments cost or what their insurance covers. When patients don't take their medicines as prescribed, it causes 125,000 deaths each year and costs $100 billion. McKesson believes that if patients could easily see their insurance benefits, medication costs, and coverage details in real-time when they visit the doctor or pharmacy, they would be more likely to take their medicines correctly. They want states to require health plans and pharmacy benefit managers to provide this cost and benefit information instantly at the point of care. This would help patients make informed choices about their healthcare and lead to better health outcomes.
Similar Services (6)
All servicesHarris Health System - Ben Taub HospitalA full-service public hospital providing emergency care, surgeries, and specialty medical services for Harris County residents regardless of ability to pay.Houston 211 HelplineCall or text 211 to get free help finding food, housing, jobs, healthcare, and other services in Houston. Trained helpers are available 24/7 to connect you with resources in your neighborhood.Local Resources DatabaseThis website helps people find resources they need like food banks, childcare, health services, and shelters. All the information is in one easy-to-use online list that gets updated regularly.Legacy Community HealthCommunity health centers providing primary care, dental, vision, and behavioral health services at affordable prices across Houston.Avenue 360 Health & WellnessProvides affordable healthcare including HIV/AIDS services, mental health counseling, and primary care for underserved communities.Texas Children's Health PlanFree or low-cost health insurance for children and pregnant women through Medicaid and CHIP programs.
The Journey
21 connected resources across 5 levelsTrail depth
Level 1
Get CuriousRead, watch, explore1 resourceLevel 2
Find Your PeopleMeet orgs, neighbors, groups11 resourcesYou are hereOrganizationBerkeley Free ClinicBerkeley Free Clinic gives free doctor visits and medical care to people who need it. Anyone can come get help with their health, even if they don't have insurance or money to pay.
OrganizationCenter on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) - Georgetown University
OrganizationArnold VenturesArnold Ventures gives money to smart people who study how to make healthcare cost less money. They want to help families afford doctors, medicine, and hospital visits without going broke.
+8 more at this levelLevel 3
Show UpEvents, meetings, volunteeringWe are building resources for this level
Level 4
Go DeeperTraining, sustained involvement4 resourcesLevel 5
Make Your MoveAdvocacy, organizing, creating5 resourcesFocus Areas