activities · 11
what they do
direct service · 11
- BakPak Outreach Program Street-Based Outreach and EngagementConducts outreach events to connect homeless individuals with essential services through the distribution of BakPaks (refilled backpacks), originally developed through a student-run organization founded in 2015.
- Homeless Outreach and BakPak Distribution Street-Based Outreach and EngagementConducts outreach events to connect homeless individuals with essential services through the distribution of BakPaks (refillable backpacks), a practice initiated by a student-run organization founded in 2015.
- Meal Distribution Program On-Campus and Pop-Up Food PantriesDistributes meals annually to individuals in need, with documented service of 25,000 meals in 2017 increasing to 1,000,000 meals in 2023, indicating a sustained and growing direct food service effort.
- Meal Distribution Program On-Campus and Pop-Up Food PantriesDistributes meals annually to individuals in need, serving 25,000 meals in 2017 and scaling up to 1,000,000 meals in 2023, indicating a sustained and growing direct food service effort.
- Medical and Social Service Navigation Homeless Health Navigation & Care AccessProvides medical navigation support and assists individuals experiencing homelessness in accessing healthcare, prescription medications, shelter, employment, and other essential services by connecting them with partner organizations and facilitating critical errands and appointments.
- Medical and Social Service Navigation Homeless Health Navigation & Care AccessProvides medical navigation support and assists individuals experiencing homelessness in accessing healthcare, prescription medications, shelter, food, employment, and other essential services by connecting them with partner organizations and facilitating critical errands.
- Medical and Social Service Navigation for Homeless Individuals Homeless Health Navigation & Care AccessOffers medical care navigation, assistance with prescription fulfillment, and connections to partner organizations that provide food, shelter, and employment resources for individuals experiencing homelessness. This includes facilitating medical care through student and alumna-led initiatives.
- Student-Run Outreach Program Distributing BakPaks Street-Based Outreach and EngagementOperates a student-founded and run outreach initiative launched in 2015 that connects homeless individuals to essential services by distributing and refilling BakPaks during outreach events.
- Transportation Assistance Program Non-Emergent Medical Appointment TransportationProvides scheduled transportation services via phone or email for individuals experiencing homelessness and underserved populations, including rides to medical appointments, housing departments, job interviews, employment, food banks, and other critical social determinants of health. The program was designed as Arizona's first health navigation and transportation system for the homeless and is supported by external funding such as from Thunderbirds Charities.
- Transportation Assistance Program Non-Emergent Medical Appointment TransportationProvides scheduled transportation services via phone or email for individuals experiencing homelessness and underserved populations, including rides to medical appointments, housing departments, job interviews, employment, food banks, and other critical social determinants of health. The program has supported clients in securing housing, employment, and medical care, and was formally launched as Arizona's first health navigation and transportation system for the homeless.
- Transportation Assistance Program for Homeless and Underserved Populations Non-Emergent Medical Appointment TransportationProvides transportation services—including scheduled rides via phone or email—to individuals experiencing homelessness and underserved populations, including seniors needing medical access such as COVID vaccine appointments. The program is part of Arizona's first health navigation and transportation system designed specifically for this population.
strategies · 15
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Addressing Health Inequities through Integrated Support and Navigation healthcare_integrationELAINE addresses health inequities experienced by individuals experiencing homelessness by providing direct support, connecting them to resources, and developing a health navigation and transportation system to facilitate access to medical care and other essential services.
- Building Organizational Strength through Diversity and Collaboration diversity-equity-access-inclusionELAINE builds organizational strength by actively seeking diversity in team representation, clients served, and partner agencies to broaden perspectives and increase impact, and by collaborating with students to facilitate service delivery.
- Collaborative engagement with students and alumni student_collaborationEngages students and alumni to extend service capacity, particularly in facilitating transportation and healthcare access for vulnerable individuals.
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion as organizational strength diversity-equity-access-inclusionStrengthens organizational impact by intentionally cultivating diversity in team representation, client engagement, and partnerships to broaden perspectives and service reach.
- Equity-centered organizational and service model diversity-equity-access-inclusionAdvances equity by intentionally diversifying team representation, client engagement, and partnerships, while focusing explicitly on reducing health inequities among homeless populations.
- Expanding foundational outreach into systemic support foundational_outreach_expansionBuilds upon the original BakPak outreach model to scale services beyond immediate needs toward long-term, systemic support structures for homeless populations.
- Expanding from Outreach to Systemic Support foundational_outreach_expansionELAINE expands its foundational model beyond initial outreach efforts to provide more systemic and comprehensive support to its clients.
- Focus on addressing health inequities addressing health inequitiesCenters organizational efforts on reducing health disparities experienced by individuals experiencing homelessness through targeted service integration and advocacy.
- Fostering a Trauma-Informed Culture trauma-informed_culture_buildingELAINE creates a culture of compassion, protection, and guidance to foster hope and safety among clients, recognizing the impact of trauma on vulnerable populations.
- Holistic, trauma-informed support model trauma-informed_culture_buildingThe organization provides comprehensive support by integrating trauma-informed practices and direct connections to resources, fostering safety, dignity, and long-term engagement among clients experiencing homelessness.
- Integrated health navigation and transportation system health_navigation_systemAddresses health inequities among people experiencing homelessness by providing coordinated health navigation and transportation services, integrating access to medical care with social support through efficient, client-centered logistics.
- Integrated health navigation and transportation system for homeless populations health_navigation_systemBy combining health navigation with specialized transportation services, the organization addresses health inequities and improves access to medical care and essential resources for people experiencing homelessness, leveraging expertise in emergency medical services to design effective protocols.
- Leveraging Emergency Medical Services Expertise for Transportation leveraging emergency medical services expertiseELAINE utilizes expertise in ambulance service and pre-hospital care to design effective transportation protocols and systems for vulnerable populations.
- Systemic expansion of outreach through partnerships and alumni networks foundational_outreach_expansionBuilds on foundational outreach models by expanding into systemic support via collaborations with students, alumni engagement, and partner agencies to increase access to healthcare and social services.
- Trauma-informed, holistic support model trauma-informed_culture_buildingBuilds safety and trust for clients through a trauma-informed culture that provides compassionate guidance and connects individuals to medical care and essential services, addressing root causes of vulnerability.
named programs · 3
what they call their work
Health Navigation
Assists individuals with medical navigation, prescription filling, and connecting with partner organizations for additional resources.
HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center (JCL) Pilot Program
Assists JCL caseworkers with patient identification, transportation for discharged patients, and ensuring safe transitions for patients with complex needs.
Transportation Services
Provides free rides to clients for housing appointments, medical care, employment, food banks, and other critical errands.
relationships · 22
who they work with
- A New Leaf Partner — Coordinated transportation for a client's move to a new apartment.
- ABC15 Partner — Covered Elaine's initiative to provide transportation for seniors to COVID vaccine appointments.
- Arizona State University Partner — Collaborates with ASU students and alumni on initiatives connecting homeless individuals to healthcare.
- CASS shelter Partner — Caseworkers refer clients to Elaine for transportation services.
- Channel 12 News Partner — Interviewed Elaine about its history and community impact.
- City of Surprise Fire and Medical Department Partner — Dr. Garth Gemar, Medical Director of the City of Surprise Fire and Medical Department, serves on Elaine's board.
- Elaine Partner — Receives support from organizations to provide care beyond survival for clients
- Gellert Health Partner — Referred a client to Elaine for transportation services.
- Glendale Fire Department Partner — Dr. Garth Gemar, Chief Medical Officer of the Glendale Fire Department, serves on Elaine's board.
- Herzberg family Funder — Provided a substantial gift that enabled a naming opportunity for the organization
- HonorHealth Partner — Krystal Robinson, Associate Vice President of Infection and Prevention at HonorHealth, serves on Elaine's board.
- HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center (JCL) Partner — Assists caseworkers with patient identification and provides transportation for discharged patients.
- Human Services Campus Partner — Board Chairman Mike McQuaid was interviewed about Elaine's services.
- Justa Center Partner — Flyers for Elaine's ride services are displayed in their lobby.
- Nourish Food Pantry Partner — Provides food boxes and clothing items to clients transported by Elaine.
- Phoenix Fire Department Partner — Dr. Garth Gemar, Medical Director for the Phoenix Fire Department, serves on Elaine's board.
- St. Mary's Partner — A food bank where clients are transported to receive food.
- Starwest Associates Partner — Bill Corn, CFO of Starwest Associates, uses his expertise in electronic data gathering and accounting to guide Elaine's operations.
- Summit Medical Group of Arizona Partner — Dr. Kim Lucas, who practices Internal Medicine at Summit Medical Group of AZ, serves on Elaine's board.
- The Salvation Army Partner — Jeff Taylor, Chairman for Salvation Army of Arizona, serves on Elaine's board.
- Thunderbirds Charities Partner — Provides support for Elaine’s Transportation Assistance Program.
- University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix Partner — Dr. Kim Lucas, a community faculty member at University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix, serves on Elaine's board.