17% percent of Americans say they don’t trust the health care system to do what’s right for them or their families.1 This mistrust can be compounded by challenges in access, outcomes and representation, creating barriers that can discourage individuals from seeking care altogether.
Recognizing this, UnitedHealthcare District Dual Choice Plan is collaborating with the Places of Worship Advisory Board (POWAB), a faith-based network with a 17-year history of connecting communities to public health resources. By meeting people in trusted spaces, such as churches, mosques and community centers, this initiative aims to improve access to care, health literacy and preventive services among seniors and populations in need in the District and surrounding Maryland and Virginia communities.
Building trust through culturally anchored care
POWAB acts as a bridge between managed care organizations and community faith leaders, creating opportunities for residents to receive health education, benefit navigation and care coordination in familiar, stigma-free settings. Through conferences, community events and regular senior center visits, participants can connect with resources that support physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Notable activities include the annual One in the Spirit Conference, POWAB Community Day and monthly senior outreach programs. These gatherings integrate preventive health education with personal values, reinforcing the idea that health care can be both culturally relevant and respectful of individual beliefs.
Multi-channel outreach and support for seniors
Beyond in-person events, the initiative extends its impact through multimedia channels that individuals can access at home. POWAB produces podcasts, videos and social media content to share information about wellness, health benefits and resources such as DC Quit Now for smoking cessation. Recognizing transportation as a common barrier for older adults, the program also funds travel support to help seniors attend wellness events and access care. Additional resources, including printed health education materials, interpreter services and direct connections to care teams, help ensure residents receive the information and support they need in the language and format that works best for them.
Sustaining a grassroots model with proven impact
POWAB’s leadership blends expertise from government, nonprofit and faith-based sectors, creating a responsive, community-driven model for public health outreach. Over the past nine years, the organization has engaged more than 15K residents across the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region. In recent years alone, its annual Community Day has reached thousands of attendees, and ongoing newsletters and podcasts connect with over 5K contacts each month.
UnitedHealthcare’s support helps sustain and scale this model, empowering community leaders to promote whole-person health. By embedding health access and education into the places where people gather for connection and support, this collaboration offers a blueprint for reaching populations that traditional systems may struggle to engage.
Reimagining access through trusted messengers
Improving health outcomes for populations in need requires more than clinical interventions, it requires trust. By working with POWAB, UnitedHealthcare is bridging the gap between health systems and the communities they serve. The collaboration demonstrates how health care can go beyond clinical settings to meet people where they are, creating lasting connections that strengthen the health of entire communities.
Learn more about how we impact residents by visiting our District of Columbia profile page.
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