Our vision is for people to quickly find and apply for social care services to ensure their basic needs are met. To maintain a high-quality directory, programs on our platform fall into two categories:
- Listable: Meets our core criteria and appears on the main Findhelp site and all customer platforms.
- Non-Listable: Does not meet all core criteria but is vital to a specific customer. These are listed exclusively on that customer’s private platform.
Listability Criteria
For a program to be listed on Findhelp, it must meet all three main criteria: it should be free or reduced cost, provide direct support, and be needs-based. These guidelines help ensure that the programs we list truly support those in need.
Free or Reduced Cost
If the service is free, you can automatically move to our other two listability filters. However we also list programs that are reduced cost, accept subsidies, or have a sliding payment scale.
A program qualifies as reduced cost if it meets at least one of the following criteria:
- Offers financial assistance to help cover costs.
- Uses a sliding scale fee based on income.
- Accepts monetary donations to offset costs for participants.
You can determine if a program is reduced cost by doing the following:
- Look for a full cost program in that geographic area to get your starting cost.
- Compare it with the cost of the program you are looking to list
- If the program’s cost is 33% less than that of the full cost program, it meets our criteria!
Medicare or Medicaid as a Payment Option
If Medicaid or Medicare is the only payment option making a program reduced cost, the program is generally not listable. However, there are exceptions to this rule:
- Legacy Programs – If a program was created before January 2021, it is considered a legacy program and will remain listable, even if Medicaid/Medicare is its only reduced-cost option.
- Programs That Meet a Basic Need Beyond Direct Medical Services – Certain non-medical services are still listable, including:
- Meal delivery
- Transportation
- Housing support
- Adult day care
- Child care with skilled nursing
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
- Programs requiring Medicaid waivers
- Baby Steps Parenting Program
- Doula services
Direct Service
Findhelp’s goal is to create a safety net where people can get access to services with dignity and ease. Being able to access a service directly contributes to this. We determine if a program is direct if it's the first point of access for that resource or service. A program is direct when:
- Seekers can self-refer to a program to access services, even if the program requires an intake or referral from another organization.
- Additionally, navigators have the ability to initiate contact with a program on behalf of a seeker.
Needs Based
When determining if a program is needs based, look for a program whose services help contribute to or maintain safety and physiological needs and dignity for a seeker. Then determine if it falls under a basic or secondary need.
Questions to ask when determining this:
- What need does it serve?
- Does this resource serve an under-resourced community? (ex low income, homeless, etc.)
Basic Needs
Services that help ensure safety, essential resources, and dignity. These include things like food, housing, healthcare, transportation, and financial stability—things that are crucial for day-to-day survival.
Secondary Needs
Services that aren’t required for survival, they play an important role in overall well-being and personal growth. These include higher education, recreational programs, small business loans, and life skills support.
Other Considerations
In addition to our three main criteria, there are a few extra factors we consider when determining if a program can be listed:
- Fiduciary Responsibility – The program must have the seeker’s best interest at heart. We don’t list programs that receive kickbacks for referrals.
- Recurring Availability – The program must be ongoing. We don’t list one-time events that won’t happen again in the future.
- Human Interaction & Support – The program must offer personal assistance to help seekers access services. We don’t list resources that require seekers to navigate everything on their own.
These guidelines help ensure that the programs we list provide meaningful, ongoing support to those who need them.