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.

Emergency Preparedness and Risk Communication Among African American Churches: Leveraging a Community-Based Participatory Research Partnership COVID-19 Initiative

Brewer L.C., Asiedu G.B., Jones C., Richard M., Erickson J., Weis J., Abbbeyi, A., Brockman, T. A., Sia, I. G., Wieland, M. L., White, R. O., Doubeni, C. A.

Release Date:

Peer Review Study

Outreach/ Education/ Communications
Economic Stability
Social and Community Context
Tools Included
Outside U.S.
ACCESS RESOURCE
Facemask

Mitigation and Prevention

This article describes an emergency preparedness strategy within an existing community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership among African-American churches to disseminate accurate COVID-19 information: The FAITH! (Fostering African-American Improvement in Total Health) program, an academic–community partnership between Mayo Clinic and local African American churches. The authors were guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication framework to conduct a needs assessment, distribute emergency preparedness manuals, and deliver COVID-19–related messaging among African-American churches via electronic communication platforms. A needs assessment showed that the top 3 church emergency resource needs were financial support, food and utilities support, and COVID-19 health information CBPR partnerships leveraged to promote emergency preparedness and communicate risk among under-resourced communities during a pandemic.

Resource Details

Outcomes of Interest

Advancing Racial Equity, Reduction of Health Disparities

Priority Population(s)

Black or African American

Setting(s) of Implementation

Community

Geographic Area of Implementation

Implementation Period

2020