2026 Front-line Staff Outstanding Performance Award: South Peninsula Hospital's Seaside Women's Care

AHHA presents the 2026 Front-line Staff Outstanding Performance Award to Seaside Women’s Care for developing an integrated behavioral health program that addresses critical social determinants—such as safety, housing, food security, transportation, and healthcare navigation—as essential components of clinical success.

In the summer of 2025, South Peninsula Hospital launched an integrated behavioral health program within its women's health clinic, Seaside Women’s Care. The impact of this approach is best illustrated by the care of a pregnant patient who arrived in Homer fleeing domestic violence while managing a substance use disorder. Seeking prenatal care, she was immediately connected to the integrated behavioral health team.

Using strategic grant funding, the team provided comprehensive, wraparound support that addressed both her medical and social needs. Care coordinators assisted her with obtaining state identification and vital records, enrolling in Medicaid and WIC, and connecting with local community resources. The grant also provided bridge funding for necessary medications while her Medicaid coverage was pending, ensuring uninterrupted access to treatment critical for her sobriety and mental health.

To minimize barriers to care, the team coordinated her prenatal and behavioral health appointments, provided taxi vouchers for transportation, and ensured access to meals during clinic visits. Recognizing that nutrition, safety, and human connection are foundational to maternal health, the staff helped create a stable environment for the patient. Consequently, she remained engaged throughout her pregnancy, maintained sobriety and mental stability, and delivered a healthy infant.

This case exemplifies the profound impact of interdisciplinary, holistic care employed by the program at Seaside Women’s Care and underscoring a vital reality often overlooked in clinical settings - treating social determinants as inseparable from physical health transforms outcomes for patients with complex needs. By bridging these gaps, the team is advancing health equity and fostering stronger families and communities.