Scaling Social Care Through Local Partnerships: A Practical Model for Advancing Health Equity and Member Outcomes
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026
- 2:00 PM (ET)
Joel W. Nellis MPH
Joel W. Nellis MPH
Joel W. Nellis is currently Senior Manager, Accreditation Policy at the National Committee for Quality Assurance. In this position, Mr. Nellis has served as subject matter expert for NCQA products such as Accreditations in Health Outcomes and Community-Focused Care and Health Plan Accreditation and supports NCQA customers in all products through the Policy Clarification and Support system. In this role he has also facilitated regular policy updates and contributed to update to the requirements.
Prior to joining NCQA, Mr. Nellis managed the NCQA Accreditation program at San Francisco Health Plan in San Francisco, CA, where he was responsible for leading NCQA Health Plan Accreditation and Health Outcomes Accreditation efforts for the Medicaid health plan.
Mr. Nellis’ health plan experience is extensive. He has held positions at several local Medicaid health plans in Northern and Southern California.
Mr. Nellis earned his MPH from the University of California, Los Angeles.
How can health plans scale social care while maintaining strong community partnerships? Join leaders from Centene, Sunshine Health, Health Net and community-based organizations to learn how they combined a national strategy with local expertise to address social drivers of health for Medicaid members.
Through real-world examples and lessons learned, speakers will demonstrate how national resources and local expertise can work together to improve chronic disease management, advance health equity and create a more responsive, person-centered experience for Medicaid members.
What You’ll Learn
- How to translate a national social care vision into community-specific action.
- Which social care data elements and feedback tools can help launch, measure and improve programs.
- Strategies for building high-trust partnerships and effective data sharing with community-based organizations.
Why Attend
Discover practical approaches for building trusted CBO partnerships, leveraging social care data and creating sustainable, person-centered programs that improve health equity and strengthen the connection between healthcare and social care.
Brandon Fjerstad
Benjamin R. Martin, J.D.
Fnan Gaim
Heather Urquides
Heather Urquides
Heather Urquides is Plan Chief Marketing and Engagement Officer for Sunshine Health. In this role, she oversees community partnerships, internal and external relations, member engagement, marketing, and 10 Community Connection Centers for the company’s Medicaid, Health Insurance Marketplace (Ambetter Health), Long Term Care and Medicare Advantage products (Wellcare).
Urquides has more than 25 years experience in marketing, communications and journalism. Prior to joining Sunshine Health in 2017, she worked at WellCare Health Plans. Prior to that, she was City Editor at Tampa Bay Times, Florida’s largest newspaper.
Urquides holds a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism from the University of Arizona and serves on the Board of Directors fo March of Dimes Broward County, which raises awareness and funds to improve birth outcomes for all moms and babies.
Melen Vue
Melen Vue
Melen Vue is a Program Manager at the Systems of Health team at HealthNet, where she leads the strategy and implementation of CalAIM Community Supports Programs, including closed-loop referrals and program design supporting behavioral health and social determinants of health initiatives. She joined HealthNet in 2019 and previously served as Vice President of Programs and Services at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) California, advancing efforts to reduce health and mental health disparities through culturally responsive systems of care. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work.
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