Get on the Bus: Partnering for Health on the Go
Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library (CHPL) works with local government and community partners to tackle needs and support the local community’s defined goals. We focus on providing free, accessible, and fact-based public health information and access through these partnerships. Working closely with the Hamilton County 513Relief Bus, we are essential in providing accessible, welcoming locations for the bus to offer Health Screenings, Social Services & Economic Relief to our Community. Funded by Hamilton County Commissioners, the 513Relief Bus provides resources directly to residents using a community-based approach. The bus is equipped with the technology to provide many services from healthcare to enrolling in relief programs for Hamilton County residents. It delivers no-cost resources and connects residents to resources and services in a way that’s never been done before. When the County needs an effective spot to take the bus and reach residents, they call CHPL!
Challenge/Opportunity
Simply accessing public health services can be a daunting task for a resident without technology or transportation, and barriers to entry can be intimidating, exhausting, and demoralizing. As a Library, we have worked diligently to be a welcoming space for all, and our staff are trained to help community members connect with outside resources.
Often, our partners are already doing fantastic work in the community, and we are able to support them through providing access to residents, robust word-of-mouth marketing for community members without technology, and a safe, stable environment where underserved community members feel supported and like they can trust the situation.
Thanks to these already established customer service relationships, residents know that they can count on our public health partners and, most importantly, access services that will help them.
Key Elements of Innovation
In addition to supporting existing initiatives such as blood drives and providing meals and snacks for kids, CHPL began a 2023/2024 partnership with the Hamilton County Commission to host the 513Relief Bus at numerous library branches which helped achieve the Commission’s goal to be in every zip code in Hamilton County, meeting community members where they are. The 513Relief Bus provides services such as free medical check-ups, free produce, free printed birth certificates, Council On Aging Services, homeowner property tax relief, and much more—and thanks to the mobile nature of the bus itself, the 513Relief Bus helps community members who might typically experience public health barriers such as lack of transportation access these much-needed services. The community has also appreciated these services being offered at the Library because of the number of locations available and additional free resources offered, such as free Wi-Fi, computers and faxing as well.
Achieved Outcomes
In partnership with the Hamilton County Commission, CHPL hosted the 513Relief Bus at 6 library locations in 2023, including Deer Park, downtown Main Library, North Central, Price Hill, and Walnut Hills. On average, the bus, library staff and community organizations served 60 people at each event, connecting them with an array of social, health and governmental services. CHPL also partnered with Hoxworth Blood Center to host blood donation drives at 7 locations in December 2023.
In 2023, CHPL provided 53,090 meals and snacks for youth in partnership with UMC Food Ministry, a federally funded meal program. In addition, staff distributed 19,555 supplemental snacks for youth outside of the meal service, thanks to generous support from The Library Foundation of Cincinnati & Hamilton County. As a result of these efforts, CHPL received the following:
-Hamilton County Public Health’s We THRIVE! Community Partner Award 2024
-Hamilton County Commission’s 513 Relief Bus Community Host Award 2024
