Community Information Exchange Initiative

Making it possible for residents in Franklin County, Ohio to access health and human services when they need it the most

CIE Initiative Plan

CIE Initiative Plan - Executive Summary

CIE Initiative RFP

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Everyone deserves to live with dignity, but no one can achieve economic stability alone — and no one agency can do it all.

Approximately 22% of Franklin County residents live in poverty
59% of residents will experience poverty at some point in their life
Columbus’ high population growth could mean over 1,000 new cases added to social services’ workload each year

The community simply can’t afford a siloed approach to support services.

The Community Information Exchange (CIE) is a county-wide initiative that makes it possible for individuals to access health and human services when they need it the most.

For a better tomorrow

Co-designed by Central Ohio residents and the community-based organizations (CBOs) supporting them, the CIE Initiative is guided by an intentional focus on equity to ensure that solutions serve the entire community.

It aims to transform how organizations coordinate human services, aided by the adoption of a technology platform.

The CIE is an essential infrastructure investment for the well-being of the community. Just like other critical infrastructure like roads, bridges, and energy systems, the CIE will use data to measure the real impact on improving residents’ lives in Franklin County.

Transforming access to health and human services

The CIE is more than a technology platform.

It’s a county-wide systems change initiative.

“Taking the time and extra steps to make sure someone understands, to me is caring.”

— Robert Crane, Resident Experience Council member

”I am better able to assist a client if I have a complete understanding of their needs and situation.”

— Cynthia Johnson, Caseworker Experience Council member

Download the CIE Initiative Plan

Overview of the initiative, including detailed information on the process, the six components, and upcoming timelines.

Download

Centering lived experience

The CIE Initiative commits to equity, inclusion, and addressing systemic inequities through technology solutions and change management. Residents, caseworkers, and system partners will be actively involved in each phase of the CIE Initiative.

The CIE Initiative’s commitment to equity will be realized through the following strategies:

Empowering an equity council to implement, monitor, and evaluate how equity guides all policies, procedures, and decisions of the CIE Initiative
Human-centered design to center the voices of the vulnerable residents
Centering the lived experience of marginalized communities
Resident-driven approach to consent, workflows, modeling, and data governance
Including four teams of experts in the RFP review process, including a community review team that focuses on equity
Continuing collaborations with Rise Together Innovation Institute

Working together generates trust, agency, and shared ownership, all of which are essential to the success of the CIE.

Human-powered, human-centered

The CIE Initiative is a collaborative systems change effort that brings together diverse stakeholders to co-create solutions that respond to community needs.

This work is housed at Smart Columbus in collaboration with the Rise Together Innovation Institute and is governed by the CIE Executive Council. It is co-designed with the CIE Product Development Council, system partner organizations, and the Experience Council residents and caseworkers with lived experience navigating community programs and services.

Executive Council

Provides overarching fiscal accountability, strategic vision, and long-term sustainability for the CIE Initiative.

Meet the Executive Council →

Care Coordination Council

Steers the development and adoption of the CIE Initiative. Instrumental in shaping CIE Initiative Components, actively participating in pilot programs, offering critical feedback, championing early adoption, and building community support.

Meet the Care Coordination Council →

Experience Council

Works closely with the product development team to co-design, regularly test and provide feedback on features and functionalities to ensure the CIE Initiative Components meet their needs.

Meet the Experience Council →