Find Resources
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Summary Report/Recommendations
This article describes policy, regulatory, and payment reforms implemented in Massachusetts in response to people with serious mental illnesses that are at disproportionate risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. The reforms include: (1) ensuring continuity of care for individuals with serious mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) supporting community-based behavioral health organizations.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Summary Report/Recommendations
This article provides insight and recommendations into how providers and healthcare systems can address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on sexual and gender minority groups by ensuring equitable treatment. Sexual and gender minority populations are an underserved and marginalized demographic that could be affected disproportionately by the social, psychological, financial, physiological, and mental health impacts of COVID-19. The authors provide steps for equitable treatment by healthcare staff, which include: (1) maintain and increase cultural responsiveness training and preparedness for SGM populations, (2) increase use of sexual orientation and gender identity measures in surveillance, (3) conduct research on the impacts of COVID-19 on SGM populations, and (4) include equity-focused initiatives in disaster preparedness plans. These actions toward equity would begin to allow for our current health system to care more appropriately for SGM populations.