Table 2 Data structure showing categories derived during open coding and their associated themes

Active, intentional outreach

Identifying the right stakeholder

Being intentional with check-ins

Someone dedicated to make these linkages

Identifying a rolodex of partners

Showing up in person to make connections

Dedicated staff to forging and maintaining relationships

Physical presence

Actively building relationships with outpatient organizations

Creating one-on-one relationships

Responding to a community need

Passion about addressing SUD in the community

Addressing shared community needs

Identifying community issues rather than individual issues as priorities

External Enabling Factors

External coordinator for liaisons

Technology to facilitate linkages

Leveraging reputations and connections to community

Hiring based off their recommendations to have a connected system

Lead by champion with community connections

Outcomes bring trust

Community roots and network

Reputations facilitate connections

Leveraging long term relationships

Reputation and referral networks

Focus on operations

Creating business relationships

Operational conversations

Reciprocal Relationships

Identifying how we can help them

Responsiveness is a two way street

Helping each other

Collaborative Approach, not just making demands

Understanding what each partner needs from you

Ensuring we have what the organization needs

Relationships built on trust

Open door policy on referrals

Sharing resources and infrastructure

Shared data systems

Data sharing

Co-locating employees