OPEN MINDS Hosts Executive Roundtable On Improving Consumer Engagement: The El Futuro Case Study
Gettysburg, PA. (October 17, 2026)— OPEN MINDS will host an executive roundtable, A Scalable Model For Improved Consumer Engagement: The El Futuro Case Study, on October 19 at 1:00 p.m. ET. As health and human service organizations work to improve access and engagement, traditional clinic-based and referral-driven approaches may not adequately address barriers related to trust, language, and cultural responsiveness. Developing service models that address these barriers is increasingly important to improving continuity of care and reaching underserved consumer populations.
The session will feature Maria Jones, Director of Client Care and Engagement, and Luke Smith, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of El Futuro, Inc., who will share how their organization developed and implemented Strong Minds, Strong Communities (SMSC), a community-based model designed to improve engagement, retention, and clinical outcomes among Latino populations.
The SMSC model combines community outreach, culturally responsive services, and bilingual clinical care to build trust, connect consumers with treatment, and support ongoing engagement. Drawing on El Futuro’s experience serving Latino communities across North Carolina, Ms. Jones and Dr. Smith will examine the operational components of the model, lessons learned from implementation, and considerations for adapting similar approaches within other provider organizations.
“Improving access to care is only part of the challenge. Provider organizations also need to find ways to engage consumers and keep them connected to services,” said Monica E. Oss, Chief Executive Officer of OPEN MINDS. “This roundtable highlights how El Futuro has developed a community-based approach to addressing those challenges, with practical lessons for executives looking to strengthen consumer engagement and build more sustainable service models.”
Attendees will gain insight into assessing the limitations of traditional engagement approaches, integrating community-based behavioral health services into value-based care strategies, and identifying the operational components needed to implement a structured, culturally responsive engagement model.
This executive roundtable is part of the ongoing OPEN MINDS series designed to provide senior leaders with practical, case-based strategies for operational excellence and sustainable growth.
Registration information is available at: A Scalable Model For Improved Consumer Engagement: The El Futuro Case Study
About El Futuro
Founded in 2001, El Futuro is a $7 million community-based non-profit organization serving Latino-serving mental health care in North Carolina. It serves approximately 3,200 Latino youth and adults annually through outpatient clinics in Durham and Siler City, and reaches more than 67 counties with telehealth services.
About OPEN MINDS
OPEN MINDS is a national market intelligence, management consulting, and marketing services firm specializing exclusively in the markets of the health and human service field that serve consumers with chronic conditions and complex support needs. The OPEN MINDS mission is to provide payers, service provider organizations, and technology and scientific firms that serve these consumers with the market and management knowledge needed to improve their organizational efficiency and effectiveness. Learn more at https://www.openminds.com.