Blog
Ounce Insights
Impact of Collaboration with The Washington Center on both residents and aspiring public health professionals
Ounce of Care provides a first-of-its-kind community-based service model by partnering with affordable housing developers in Washington D.C., Richmond, VA, and Seattle, WA, to support their residents needs around health, wellness, and stability.
Introducing Ounce
“The nation needs Ounce, but for right now, I want to say thank you for having Ounce in our neighborhood,” says Lakeith, an Ounce D.C. resident who smiles at our team as she heads out of the property community room and back to her apartment.
Investing in Healthier Neighborhoods
On City Health’s dashboard, look up any city in the United States and cycle through the health and social metrics (diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, life expectancy, food security, education, employment), and the heat map looks more or less the same.
Building Trust with Medicaid Members through Personalized Care
In healthcare, trust is an invaluable currency. It forms the foundation of the patient-provider relationship, leading to improved health outcomes and increased satisfaction.
Improving Engagement: Meet Members Where They Live
Medicaid plays such a crucial role in providing healthcare coverage for low-income individuals and families in the US.
Providing Preventive Care and Regular Health Screenings in Affordable Housing Communities
Prevention is one of the most important pillars of public health, with missed prevention opportunities costing the United States $55 billion every year.
Dylan Owens
Dylan serves as the D.C. Market Lead for Ounce, bringing years of experience coordinating care for district residents. With her passion for health equity, she strives to improve access, prevent hospitalizations, and build community engagement by connecting residents to high-quality programs and services. Prior to Ounce, Dylan was a Care Coordinator at McFarland & Associates. She was also a Community Health Worker with the African American Health Program, where she continues to participate in weekend events to conduct health screenings and provide education about chronic disease management and prevention.
Dylan holds a Master's in Public Health from George Washington University, along with a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University. Outside of work, she enjoys dancing, playing tennis, traveling, and trying new things.
Jona Roka
Jona is a Community Health Lead for Ounce, helping D.C residents navigate the healthcare system by creating individualized care management plans to address medical, functional, and psychosocial needs and connecting them to community services. At Ounce, she helps build partnerships with local community organizations and coordinates on-site events for residents. She is passionate about minimizing health disparities by finding creative solutions for preventative care.
Jona holds a Master's in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management and a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University. In her free time, she enjoys running, playing tennis, spending time with friends and family, and traveling.