Manatee County Joins Unite Us: Connecting You to Essential Community Resources

We're excited to partner with Unite Us to streamline access to health, education, and family support services right here in Manatee County—making it easier for you to get the help you need, when you need it.

About the Partnership:

Unite Us is a free, secure platform that links individuals and families to local resources, such as food assistance, mental health support, housing aid, and educational programs. It enables seamless referrals between government agencies, healthcare providers, and community organizations, ensuring coordinated 'whole-person' care.

In Manatee County, this means faster, more effective connections to services through partners such as Manatee County Government, the School District of Manatee County, and the Manatee Community Foundation—all working together to break down barriers and ensure our community remains the premier place to live, work, and play.

Benefits for Manatee County Residents:

· Easier Access: Quickly find and apply for services in one place, reducing paperwork and wait times.

· Improved Outcomes: Track your care journey with secure data sharing—recent partnerships have boosted access to vital support services by 89% in Manatee, Sarasota, and DeSoto counties.

· Privacy Protected: All information is handled with HIPAA-compliant security to safeguard your data.

· Free for All: No cost to individuals; available 24/7 via web or mobile.

Below are step-by-step guides on how to get involved:

For Residents

1. Visit Unite Us and create a free account.

2. Search for services by need (e.g. aging, veterans, housing, probation, or health services) or location (filter to Manatee County).

3. Submit a referral request—our team will connect you to the right provider.

For Organizations:

1. Visit Unite Us Website- Go to uniteus.com. There’s a “Join the Network” or “Get Connected” option.

2. Fill Out the Interest Form- Provide details about the agency:

· Organization name and type (nonprofit, government, healthcare provider, etc.)

· Services offered (housing, food, mental health, transportation, etc.)

· Contact information for the agency’s point of contact.

3. Unite Us Team Outreach- A Unite Us community engagement manager will reach out to learn more about the services, eligibility criteria, and service area. They’ll also explain how the platform works per region (Unite Us operates through local/state networks).

4. Service Mapping & Agreement- Services will be mapped into the network so other partners know what is provide. Most agencies sign a participation agreement (usually at no cost for community-based nonprofits, since the platform is often funded by healthcare systems, insurers, or governments).

5. Training & Onboarding- Unite Us provides training for staff on how to use the platform (sending/receiving referrals, updating referral status, reporting, etc.).

6. Go Live- Once staff is trained, the organization will be “live” in the local Unite Us network and able to receive and send referrals.