How Do Solano County Agencies Share Referral Information?
Agencies in Solano County share referral information best when the person agrees to it, only the facts needed for the handoff are passed on, and the receiving agency confirms it has the referral. Most sharing today still happens by phone, email and separate spreadsheets, so a referral can be sent and never confirmed.
What is true today
- Pathfinders for Hope is a Vallejo nonprofit building Operation Iron Gate, a referral-accountability system. Its North Bay Pilot is projected for January 2027 in Vallejo and Solano County. It is not running yet, and we have no results to report.
- GATEHOUSE, our community platform, is live. It is where Pathfinders for Hope does your intake, barrier review and the calls to agencies. See GATEHOUSE.
- Agencies can list their organization as a resource so staff and the public can find them. See List your organization.
- Pathfinders for Hope phone help, (707) 205-7588, is open now.
- Joining GATEHOUSE does not put you or your agency in the North Bay Pilot.
What should an agency share in a referral?
Share the least that lets the next agency act: who the person is, what service they need, why, the best way to reach them, and that they agreed to the referral. Leave out anything the next agency does not need to help. A person’s consent should be recorded, not assumed.
Why does “sent” not mean “served”?
A sent referral shows where information went. It does not show that the receiving agency read it, accepted it, or that the person arrived. Closing the loop means someone on each side owns the next step until there is a documented result. See What Is Referral Accountability? and Sent vs confirmed handoff.
What does a good handoff look like?
| Step | What should happen |
|---|---|
| Consent | The person agrees to what is shared and with whom |
| Referral made | Destination, reason and responsible person recorded |
| Received | The receiving agency confirms it has the referral |
| Connection | The person actually reached the service |
| Result | The outcome is recorded as it happened, including “did not connect” |
These steps follow the stages we plan to measure. See How we measure results and North Bay Pilot milestones.
How does this fit with HMIS?
Operation Iron Gate is meant to sit alongside an agency’s own record system, not replace it. Each agency keeps its own data and decisions. See HMIS and referral follow-up.
Where can someone in Solano County find help right now?
- Emergency: call 911.
- Crisis or thoughts of suicide: call or text 988.
- Shelter, food or services: call 211 (24 hours, anywhere in California).
- Resource Connect Solano: 707-346-5870.
- Pathfinders for Hope: (707) 205-7588. We are not a shelter and cannot hold or promise a bed.
- Browse local places in the resource finder.
Frequently asked questions
Can agencies share client information without consent? Our approach is no: share only with the person’s OK and only what the handoff needs. Each agency also follows its own legal and funder rules, which come first.
Does Pathfinders for Hope hold the data for other agencies? No. Agencies keep their own clients and records. GATEHOUSE is where Pathfinders for Hope handles its own intake and the calls to agencies.
Is the referral system live for the whole county? No. The North Bay Pilot has not started. We will post milestones here only after they happen.
How does an agency get involved? List your organization as a resource or call (707) 205-7588.
Prepared by Pathfinders for Hope. Updated 21 October 2026.