Event Recap: Re-energizing Collaboration in the Roanoke Valley

For four hours in early May, as community members streamed into the Green Ridge Recreation Center in Roanoke to swim, work out, and play pickleball, more than 70 representatives from across the Roanoke Valley’s health and human services network gathered to explore three essential questions: 

• How can a strong, coordinated system of care and community services continue to be advanced? 

• How does each organization play a role in advancing care coordination in their communities? 

• How can 211 Virginia be an essential backbone to a more connected and effective safety net?  

Once primarily known as a statewide helpline, 211 Virginia has systematically undergone a major transformation. With upgraded backend technology that integrates seamlessly with many of the field’s leading records management systems, 211 Virginia is now built to support the entire ecosystem of providers. 

While it was never just a number to call or a link to click, with more than 200,000 contacts annually, 211 Virginia stands alone as a data-driven platform capable of streamlining referrals, tracking outcomes, and improving service coordination across the Commonwealth.  

The Roanoke convening offered a first-hand look at what this transformation means in practice. Through live demonstrations, attendees saw how the upgraded system enables providers to send real-time referrals, confirm follow-through, and close the loop—all without duplicate data entry or disconnected handoffs. 

“We can finally follow residents as they move through services and see where we can improve,” said Zenith Barrett, Vice Chair of the Council of Community Services.  

But the event wasn’t simply a tech showcase. From the opening remarks provided by local voices to the hands-on workshop sessions that closed out the day, participants reflected on the growing complexity of community needs: rising housing insecurity, long behavioral health waitlists, a shortage of affordable childcare, and growing uncertainty around federal funding. 

These reflections revealed an essential truth—Virginia doesn’t just need more services; it needs smarter, stronger coordination between them. As participants mapped the strengths of the region’s safety net and pinpointed opportunities for partnerships and tools that could be more fully leveraged, a practical, solution-oriented picture began to emerge—one with 211 Virginia as a key centerpiece that empowers organizations to work together, track outcomes, and ensure that no one falls through the cracks. 

“The asset and investment of the Commonwealth cannot be fulfilled without the engagement of our nonprofit and public-sector partners,” said Kathy Spangler, Director of 211 Virginia and Serve Virginia, who envisions more events like these in the future.  

The takeaway from this event is clear—coordinated care isn’t just a goal. With shared tools, shared language, and shared accountability, it’s a growing reality.