University of Tennessee, AlignCare

Total Funding: $6,725,590 since 2017

In March 2017, Maddie’s Fund^® awarded a $391,420 basic research grant for AlignCare^TM through University of Tennessee’s (UT) Program for Pet Health Equity (PPHE), Access to Veterinary Care: Barriers and Best Practices, Public Policy. This report was published in December 2018.

Since 2018, we’ve awarded $6,334,170 to UT for the research, development, support and establishment of the AlignCare program.

AlignCare^TM, the first One Health healthcare system that addresses the needs of people, their pets, and their ecosystem, is largely defined by socioeconomics. AlignCare connects families with veterinary service providers, while leveraging community resources and activities. This focus on a One Health healthcare system merges human-centric social services and public health programs with animal-centric (for-profit and nonprofit) veterinary services to form a more encompassing family-centric veterinary care system for bonded families.

After three years of research and development, AlignCare has been implemented in eight pilot communities (Phoenix, AZ; Knoxville, TN; Asheville, NC; Buffalo, NY; Las Vegas, NV; Reno, NV; Raleigh-Durham, NC; Spokane, WA) and is expanding to four additional communities (Eastern Band Cherokee Indian Nation in Western North Carolina; Shinnecock Indian Nation in Long Island, NY; Denver, CO; Los Angeles, CA). Although each community is unique, all share the key features of AlignCare: collaborations among social service agencies, animal welfare organizations and veterinary service providers. In addition, AlignCare connects families with resources needed for both the human and nonhuman family members.

Although each community is unique, all share the key features of AlignCare: collaborations among social service agencies, animal welfare organizations and veterinary service providers. In addition, AlignCare connects families with resources needed for both the human and nonhuman family members.