Add-On Experiences

Community Benefit: Requirements and Key Principles for Improving Health

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT

Join the Catholic Health Association for a condensed version of its popular Community Benefit 101 program, a high-level introduction to hospital community benefit and the important role it plays in improving community health. During this pre-conference workshop, leaders at Catholic Health Association, Lyon Software and several hospitals will speak about the mission and legal imperatives for hospital community benefit, which programs and activities count, and how hospitals, community organizations and public health bodies can work together to identify, prioritize and address community health needs. Participants will also learn ways to embed efforts to reduce disparities in health outcomes into partnerships and all aspects of community benefit programming. Join this workshop to:

• Understand the basics of community benefit: what it is, what it involves and how it's reported.
• Learn how you can integrate efforts to reduce disparities in health outcomes into all aspects of community benefit programming.
• Master the strategies community stakeholders need in order to work together to improve community health and reduce disparities.

Innovation Summit – Breaking Barriers: Redesigning Access and Strengthening Partnerships for Better Outcomes

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT

Join the Texas Hospital Association and the American Hospital Association for an interactive, solutions‑focused workshop designed for health care leaders, practitioners, and innovators committed to reducing disparities in health outcomes and strengthening cross‑sector collaboration.

Hospitals and health systems face a rapidly evolving field. This workshop invites participants to step back, rethink traditional approaches, and co‑design new strategies that drive better outcomes for individuals and communities. Participants will take part in a facilitated design-thinking session to co-create innovative solutions for implementing advanced patient engagement strategies within their own organizations.

Through hands‑on activities, real‑world examples, and facilitated dialogue, participants will:

• Participate in a facilitated design-thinking session to co-create innovative solutions for implementing advanced patient engagement strategies.
• Map opportunities to better align systems and programs to meet people where they are.
• Identify practical solutions that can be implemented within their teams, organizations, or networks.

This interactive pre-conference workshop will bring together health care leaders, innovators and frontline experts to explore promising practices that reduce disparities in health outcomes and expand access to care. Attendees will walk away with actionable insights, strengthened connections, and a refreshed perspective on what is possible when we break down silos and design access with intention.

Creating an Accessible Health Care System for People with Lived Experience of Complex Health and Social Needs

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT

Led by the INSPIRE (Initiating National Strategies for Partnership, Inclusion, and Real Engagement) initiative, this pre-conference workshop will feature learnings and replicable practices from experienced hospital-community engagement practitioners working with community members who have complex health and social needs. Community members and people with lived experience can be critical partners to hospitals by offering important insights regarding how to shape various aspects of health care delivery, program design, quality improvement and governance. Workshop participants will learn how to best approach this work from INSPIRE, which is spearheaded by national leaders in community engagement and individuals with lived experience and which seeks to collaboratively design and implement a national strategy to enhance the practice of authentic community engagement in health care. Join this workshop to:

• Gain insights into effectively engaging with communities and individuals with lived experience in a health care setting.
• Use new information to enhance your current community engagement activities and develop more inclusive and equitable strategies for future programming, ultimately creating a more accessible health care system.
• Strategically plan and structure components of a community engagement strategy that ensures meaningful involvement of individuals with lived experience throughout their health care ecosystem.

NextGen CHNAs: Advancing Catalytic Community Assessments to Drive Thriving Communities

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT

During this interactive pre-conference workshop, Loma Linda University Health, Fox Valley Data Exchange and the teams supporting The Rippel Foundation’s ReThink Health initiative will guide participants in exploring what it takes to create a future of health and well-being in their communities. Drawing on the Vital Conditions for Health and Well-being Framework and hands-on experiences, this session will share concrete next steps for how hospitals, health systems and their partners can leverage community health assessments to drive systems change, foster collaboration and strengthen community trust.

Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) has a legacy of working deeply in communities to address access to care and social needs. LLUH used this approach, guided by the Vital Conditions framework, to transform the development and implementation of its 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). LLUH has also been a key partner in the Inland Empire Vital Conditions Network, a regional “network-of-networks” uniting partners around a shared purpose: building a future where all people and places thrive. This effort exemplifies the power of coordinated, multi-solver strategies that amplify existing strengths and uncover new pathways for collective action.

The Fox Valley Data Exchange is redefining how our region understands and uses data, making it easier than ever to create smart, targeted action across three counties in Wisconsin. The platform organizes its data around the Vital Conditions for Wellbeing and is supporting the work of the Tri-County Health Improvement Coalition, as healthcare and public health leaders come together to assess the needs of their respective communities, set priorities, and establish plans to improve the conditions that enable local residents to be happy, healthy, housed, and thriving.Through case examples from across the country, group exercises and discussion, attendees will learn how to apply these tools to strengthen their regional planning and community health strategies. Attendees will leave with practical tools, peer insights and actionable steps to integrate the Vital Conditions into their own CHNAs and CHIPs, positioning their organizations as catalysts for thriving communities.

A Holistic Approach to Health at The Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness Center 

Hosted by staff from Baylor Scott & White Health

Discover how Baylor Scott & White Health’s and The City of Dallas Parks and Recreation’s collaboration and innovation are transforming health outcomes in their neighborhood. Learn how the Baylor Scott & White’s Health and Wellness Center is offering a wide range of services from medical care and nutrition counseling to wellness classes and chronic disease management. Hear how community health workers, philanthropic support, and outreach programs like Tweeners, PEERS, and Healthy Cities are empowering families to lead healthier lives. Explore hands-on resources including cooking classes, weekly farm stands, and personalized nutrition therapy. Learn more about Baylor Scott & White's work by listening to this AHA Advancing Health podcast.

Peters Colony Market: Advancing Nutrition Access

Hosted by staff from Medical City Healthcare

Explore the new in-school market at Peters Colony Elementary in Lewisville ISD, where Medical City Healthcare supported by the HCA Healthcare Foundation, the American Heart Association and the Tarrant Area Food Bank are helping bring nutrition access to students with an in-school market stocked with fresh produce and shelf-stable items. Learn how the market supports families facing food insecurity and promotes heart-healthy choices. Discover how this initiative reflects Medical City’s broader commitment to community wellness, including its AHA NOVA-award winning kids teaching kids® Healthy Lifestyles program, which reaches over half a million students across Texas with nutrition education and resources.

Restoring Dignity and Health at Austin Street Center with Health to Home

Hosted by staff from Texas Health Resources

This guided tour offers a first-hand look at the Health to Home facility, a groundbreaking partnership between Austin Street Center and Texas Health Resources to improve health outcomes and reduce readmissions for people experiencing housing insecurity. This innovative program provides medical recuperation services to adults who are discharged from hospitals but lack a safe place to heal. At Health to Home, people receive individualized, holistic care and access to essential services including mental health care, housing navigation and employment support. Participants will learn how this strategic partnership is reshaping recovery outcomes and restoring dignity to those most in need.

Building Futures: The Viola’s House Experience

See how Viola’s House provides temporary housing and comprehensive support services to expectant teenage mothers aged 18–24 in the Dallas area who are either experiencing or at risk of homelessness, or who lack a safe living arrangement. Through partnerships with local hospitals and community organizations, Viola’s House empowers young mothers to build self-sufficient, stable lives for themselves and their children. The program equips participants with essential skills in parenting, child development, family budgeting, health and nutrition — helping them transition successfully into adulthood with confidence and stability.