SONNET: Who We Are
Meet the hearts and minds behind SONNET
We are a learning network of researchers and evaluators who are committed to helping Kaiser Permanente leaders, administrators, and clinicians design, evaluate, and implement interventions that address the social needs of our members.
SONNET supports KP's social health initiatives at both the regional and national levels. We contribute expertise in the measurement of social needs and intervention outcomes, health plan staff and community engagement, intervention design, program evaluation, and advanced analytics. Our Evaluation and Research Committee (ERC) moves this work forward, with the support of our Coordinating Center and our executive sponsors.
Evaluation and Research Committee
The Evaluation and Research Committee (ERC) is responsible for guiding the overall strategic direction and activities of the Network. Our ERC includes representation from across all 8 Kaiser Permanente regions, and each ERC member is leading a SONNET-related project in their home institution.
Coordinating Center
SONNET's Coordinating Center is housed at Kaiser Permanente Washington Research Institute in Seattle. Coordinating Center staff are responsible for achieving the goals laid out by the ERC by operationalizing our efforts to connect, consult, and communicate on social health initiatives across KP.
Executive Sponsors
SONNET's executive sponsors serve in an advisory capacity to ensure the network's scope and direction continually meet the needs of KP members and leadership. They also promote SONNET's purpose and capabilities among executive leaders and others within and outside KP to help identify opportunities for collaboration.
Learn more
Our latest reports
Social risks and health care utilization among older adults
Looking at data from KP’s Medicare Total Health Assessment survey, this SONNET project found that having more social needs was linked to higher emergency department (ED) utilization and hospital admissions among older adult members of KP Northwest. Project lead: David Mosen, PhD, MPH.
Social risks and racial differences in chronic illness outcomes
This SONNET project took a deep dive into data from KP's 2020 National Social Health Survey, finding that Black members had a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension compared to white members. Project leads: Jennifer Gander, PhD, and Suma Vupputuri, PhD, MPH.
Land Acknowledgment
Our Seattle offices sit on the occupied land of the Duwamish and by the shared waters of the Coast Salish people, who have been here thousands of years and remain. Learn about practicing land acknowledgment.