Reyna: RGV’s vulnerable communities will benefit from new Unite Us technology platform

Mario Reyna

Rio Grande Guardian
BY STEVE TAYLOR 
NOVEMBER 21, 2023

MCALLEN, Texas – The Rio Grande Valley is going to hear a lot more about a new technology platform designed to help nonprofits and governmental agencies collaborate to help vulnerable members of society.

This is the prediction of Mario Reyna, one of the leaders of the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force. The task force was set up by Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez to help reduce poverty.

Reyna said the new technology platform is called Unite Us. He said it was designed to help navigate health and social services options.

“So we have 14 subgroups within the Prosperity Task and I just happened to be listening to the medical services group,” Reyna said. “They were talking about something called Unite Us. And the conversation was all about how this platform could help people with what’s called the social determinants of health. So, we asked more and more questions. And we come to find out we can use this thing all over the place.”

According to Unite Us’ website, the platform “brings sectors together through technology to ensure people’s needs are met. We drive the collaboration to identify, deliver, and pay for services that impact whole-person health.”

The “About Us” page on the website states: 

“Unite Us was founded with a single purpose: to improve people’s health and well-being by connecting communities to our technology. We’ve built a team of good humans, collaborators, and big thinkers building solutions meant to last.

“In 2013, co-founders Dan Brillman and Taylor Justice set out to serve the people they served with. Seeking to alleviate the problems veterans and their families experienced during the transition back to civilian life, Dan and Taylor designed a solution to eliminate the barriers and inefficiencies in trying to navigate health and social services.”

Reyna said he expects great things from Unite Us. 

“Unite Us is a platform that’s going to help the nonprofits, government entities, any kind of institution that wants to help our community. They will be able to use this platform to help with whatever they need help with. And then, if they need additional help, they will send this information to the next agency, the next nonprofit, to help these individuals, whatever the situation may be.”

Reyna gave an example. He said if someone goes to the Food Bank to pick up groceries they will be asked if they need anything else. If that person says yes, he or she needs to see a doctor, they could be referred to El Milagro Clinic. 

“With Unite Us you just press a button and it goes to El Milagro. And El Milagro will have all the information that they need on this individual and they will make contact with this individual. How can we help you? Then they go there and then they continue asking what else can we do for you? And then, whatever the situation may be, they’ll just press the button and go someplace else.”

Reyna said he can foresee even more uses for Unite Us. 

“We’re going to do something else with this platform. We’re going to ask them, are you working? And then, if they say no, we’ll ask them do you need help? If they say yes, I need help, they will be sent to Workforce Solutions, and then they will help them.” 

Reyna said Workforce Solutions has a very powerful job listing system called Work in Texas. 

“So, with Work in Texas, if you go into this system, it will tell you all the jobs that are in Hidalgo County and also in other areas.”

Reyna said Work in Texas currently shows about 9,000 job openings in the area.

“How do we get this information out to the public? If you want a job, go to Work in Texas, do a search and I’m more than certain that whatever you’re looking for, you’re going to find it there. And then, once you go there, you see that the job is open. You just submit your resume. And then, if you have the right qualifications, the right credentials, someone should call you.”

Rena said the job listings Workforce Solutions offers will be part of Unite Us. 

“I think it is going to help us coordinate all the activities in Hidalgo County and help provide a better service to the individual that needs help.”

Reyna said a local foundation has bought the contract to use the Unite Us platform. 

“And so they have 80 licenses that will be distributed to 80 users that are in our region. And so now we know that there’s going to be at least 80 more users and agencies across our region that are going to be using this,” Reyna said.

“The idea here is that every nonprofit can get this platform for free. And if you are a governmental entity, for $21,000 you can be involved and you can get five licenses so you can keep track of how your citizens are being helped. Believe me, this is going to be something that you will hear more about into the future.”

Reyna added: “I credit the medical services group (within the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force) for bringing this to our attention. Specifically, Marisol Resendez. She’s involved with El Milagro Clinic and she’s the one that started this conversation. It’s getting a lot of traction.”