Cecelia Bailey, executive director of Quad Cities Open Network, will be a featured speaker at the upcoming Findhelp 2026 Connect Summit, taking place virtually on Wednesday and Thursday, May 13 and 14.
The Findhelp Connect Summit is a national conference that brings together leaders from healthcare, social services, and the public sector to advance innovative solutions that strengthen community care systems across the United States. The virtual summit is expected to draw more than 1,500 attendees nationwide and will feature dozens of sessions focused on advancing social care infrastructure, policy, and technology.
Ms. Bailey, who has led Open Network since March of 2020, will discuss information and referral system integration. She will highlight the ongoing work in the Quad Cities region to improve access to essential services through coordinated technology and community partnerships.
The Quad Cities Open Network has been actively working to strengthen the local safety net by
improving how organizations share information and connect residents to services.
Her Findhelp session will focus on how integrated systems can streamline connections between individuals and critical resources such as housing support, food assistance, healthcare, and other social services.
“Being part of this national conversation is an incredible opportunity to showcase the
collaborative work happening right here in the Quad Cities,” Ms. Bailey said in a news release. “Our goal is to ensure that no one falls through the cracks when seeking help, and integrated referral systems are a key part of that mission.”
In 2023, Quad Cities Open Network was selected as a nonprofit winner in the QCBJ’s Connect for a Cause Awards. It was recognized for its work in addressing the rising number of households at risk of eviction due to COVID-19 impacts. The network partnered with Iowa Legal Aid, Salvation Army and Community Action of Eastern Iowa on the initiative creating a Scott County Eviction Diversion Program, which created a process of offering landlords one month’s rent from the network. As a result, $89,859 was dispersed to assist 105 households with rental payments to keep them housed. In total, 915 evictions were prevented with this collaboration.
