As Vice President of Health and Community Impact, Karis Grounds oversees the Community Information Exchange supporting the vision, engagement, and integration of the CIE. Through a public health lens, she helps to build relationships and partnerships with health and social service providers to improve coordinated care and health outcomes for the community.

Before the launch of the CIE, Karis served as 211’s Director of Health and Partner Integration, and was already building new and irreplaceable cross-sector partnerships as the manager of 211’s Health Navigation team. Karis developed the regional Health Navigation Program to serve as an integral transection of information and services for San Diego and Imperial Counties. Her team addressed clients’ Social Determinants of Health through phone-based care coordination model, building care plans, coordinating care, and educating clients about how to manage their health if they suffer from or are at-risk of chronic illness. Karis has helped build cross-sector partnerships with 9-1-1, local hospitals, the County’s Health and Human Services Agency, legal aid organizations, education-focused organizations, clinics and more, creating efficiency in care and, ultimately, a stronger, healthier and independent population.

Karis brings a background of public health, healthcare access and sociology to her role. Prior to working at 211, Karis worked in international and refugee health, helping to improve access to care and preventative services. She is passionate about social determinants of health and advancing holistic health to improve equity locally and nationally. Karis lives in Bay Park with her husband, son, and dog.