Columbus has the compassion. Now, we're building the connection.
The September convening brought Columbus organizations to the same table. The network is now moving forward—and there is still room for yours.
If your organization serves vulnerable children, teens, or families in Columbus—through healthcare, behavioral health, schools, faith communities, crisis response, housing, recovery, or community support—this initiative was built for the gaps you run into every day.
The Columbus Cares Network Initiative is starting within underserved communities in the Muscogee County School District, where anchor partners are already working together to build a shared system of care. From there, the network is designed to grow outward—expanding across Columbus as more organizations join and strengthen the collaboration. If your work touches any part of that continuum, you have a place here.
We've been saying something needs to change. With your help, something will.
Two ways to move forward
Whether you joined us in September or are hearing about the initiative for the first time, the door is open. Choose the path that fits where your organization is today.
Request partnership information
Get an overview of how the network works, how the YOUU Health Cloud supports shared referrals and care coordination, and what joining looks like for an organization like yours.
Speak with Sandra Mitchell
Cornerstone Columbus · Support Services & Nonprofit RelationsTalk one-on-one about where your services fit, what partnership involves, and how Cornerstone Columbus supports its nonprofit partners day to day.
Thank you for coming to the table
On September 16, organizations from across Columbus gathered at Valley Healthcare System—in person and on Zoom—for the inaugural convening of the Columbus Cares Network Initiative. We are grateful to every organization that gave its time, its perspective, and its honesty about where families are falling through the cracks.
A special thank-you to our convening organizations—the Cornerstone Foundation, Cure Violence Columbus, and Valley Healthcare System—and to the anchor partners and participating organizations who showed up ready to build something together.
- The initiative's vision and starting focus—launching within underserved communities in the Muscogee County School District and growing outward across Columbus
- An introduction to the YOUU Health Cloud and how it helps partners share visibility, track referrals, and coordinate care
- An honest look at where gaps in the current care system exist—and how the network grows stronger as the right organizations join
- Time for anchor partners and new participants to connect with the convening organizations and with one another
The work is underway. Follow-up conversations with participating organizations are moving forward now—and the network is still open to organizations whose services strengthen the full care continuum.
The Problem We Can No Longer Ignore
If you serve children, families, or individuals in Columbus, you already know this moment: a family you care about needs something you can't provide, so you make a referral and hope for the best. You may never find out what happened next.
Referrals get lost. Follow-ups never happen. Families slip through the cracks—not because anyone stopped caring, but because our systems weren't designed to connect.
The result is duplicated effort, exhausted staff, and children and families who miss out on the coordinated care they urgently need.
This initiative exists to change that. Not by asking any organization to abandon its mission, but by building a shared ecosystem where every referral is tracked, every touchpoint is visible, and every person is seen. It began the moment we came together—and it grows stronger with every partner who joins.
The Organizations Behind This Initiative
Three convening organizations—the Cornerstone Foundation, Cure Violence Columbus, and Valley Healthcare System—lead the Columbus Cares Network Initiative, with additional anchor partners who have committed to launching together. Between them, they bring clinical credibility, community trust, and the relational reach to make coordinated care real. Our shared commitment makes this initiative ready to move—and ready to grow.
Dr. Jonathan Badgett
Cornerstone FoundationDr. Badgett leads Cornerstone Foundation with a clear conviction: personal and community transformation requires every sector working together. He brings organizational leadership, a passion for whole-person care, and a proven commitment to building bridges between health, service, and faith.
Reggie Lewis
Cure Violence ColumbusReggie Lewis carries relationships that span the full breadth of Columbus's most underserved communities. He has spent years building a trusted network of organizations and churches committed to interrupting cycles of violent crime. Those long-standing relationships form the bedrock of this initiative.
Dr. Asante' Hilts
Valley Healthcare SystemDr. Hilts brings the clinical anchoring that gives this initiative its institutional weight. As CEO of Valley Healthcare System, Dr. Hilts ensures the coordinated care ecosystem is grounded in evidence-based, clinically sound practice from day one.
Take the Next Step
Tell us a bit about your organization and choose how you'd like to connect. A member of our team—or Sandra directly—will follow up with you.