IRIS networks have been steadily expanding their impact since the first network launched in 2017, due in no small part to their commitment to increasing the variety of services available to community members. The growth of these networks is evident when comparing the scope of cross-sector referral activity of the first referrals sent through the system in 2017 to 100 referrals occurring over one day in August 2024.
The visuals below illustrate how IRIS referral activity and sector distribution have expanded over the years. Here circles represent organizations operating within specific sectors, with their size indicating the volume of referrals exchanged. The weight and direction of the arrows reflect the volume and direction of these referrals.
First 100 Referrals (February 6 – April 7, 2017)
The first 100 IRIS referrals occurred in the Southeast Kansas IRIS network during the initial piloting of the system. This small but mighty cohort of cross-county partners embraced a new technology to ensure community members could easily access needed services. During three months in early 2017, four Resource Navigation organizations made 100 referrals to three Early Childhood and one Maternal and Child Health organization. This initial adoption, driven by a resilient and collaborative spirit, established the path for other regions to develop their own IRIS networks.
Recent 100 Referrals (data from August 26, 2024)
Seven years later, IRIS has evolved to the platform we know today, with adaptable and persevering partners meeting the diverse needs of evolving populations and establishing multiple pathways for families to access services. A sampling of 100 referrals from August 26, 2024, is indicative of this growth, having taken place in less than one day and spread across 22 IRIS networks that span several states. Referral activity across all ten IRIS sectors is represented in these 100 referrals. This increasingly efficient referral coordination underscores the highly engaged IRIS networks that have built upon the foundational work that began at the grassroots level in Kansas.
Download | IRIS Cross-Sector Referral Growth
