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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.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
This series of case studies examines nine communities (in Kansas, Texas, Wisconsin, Alabama, New Mexico, Washington, Michigan, Florida, and New York) to understand the impacts of COVID-19 on community members and local mitigation efforts. The case studies offer examples of lessons learned from these nine communities related to health, economic response, in-person schooling, and affordable housing. Practices that were shown to be successful in these communities include using operational equity plan to allocate resources, engaging community members in decision making, and building cross-sector relationships between businesses, government, and non-profits for increased collaboration and information sharing.
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.
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Peer Review Study
This case study describes how Inova Health System in Northern Virginia developed and integrated a vaccination administration program, while simultaneously caring for patients hospitalized with COVID-19, and provides recommendations on how other health cares systems can integrate a vaccine program. Inova Health System created a Vaccination Implementation Team led by a triad of leaders in conjunction with established emergency management leaders and Inova’s COVID-19 Coordination Center to plan for the immediate delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine, once available. The guiding imperatives were to protect the safety of the vaccination team and vaccine recipients while offering vaccination for all eligible individuals. The initial work streams carried out by the team included: (1) process design, including space/geography, personnel, and vaccine handling; (2) prioritization and scheduling; and (3) communications. Inova’s Inclusion Council implemented strategies that facilitated culturally appropriate communication, identified ethnic and racial biases and fears, and promoted recommended and safe vaccination practices through an “inside-out” program.
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.
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Peer Review Study
This study is an evaluation of a community-based “Test-to-Care” model that was developed to address barriers for socioeconomically vulnerable Latinx individuals with newly diagnosed COVID-19 and their households. This “Test-to-Care” demonstration project was implemented in the Mission district of San Francisco, CA. It was developed with input from community members and public health leaders, with the key components including: 1) provision of COVID-19 related education and information about available community resources, 2) home deliveries of material goods to facilitate safe isolation and quarantine, and 3) longitudinal clinical and social support. The Test-to Care team consisted of healthcare providers and community health workers. The model was evaluated using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance Framework. The evaluation of the model found that it is a feasible and acceptable intervention for supporting self-isolation and quarantine among newly diagnosed COVID-19 patients and their households by directly addressing key barriers faced by socioeconomically vulnerable populations.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
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Case Study
This case study describes how the Student Response Team (SRT) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center assisted the local health departments in mitigation and response activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The SRT was a voluntary student-led effort that assisted in health contact tracing, monitoring social media, and education the public. Their experience demonstrates how students can increase the public health surge capacity of local health departments while gaining applied experience during public health emergencies. The recommendations include forming, training, and deploying SRTs throughout academic institutions to implement during and beyond the current pandemic.
Best Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes when implemented in multiple real-life settings, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities.
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Peer Review Study
This article describes a community-based participatory research initiative based on an existing community–academic partnership. Partners included the University of Arkansas, nonprofit organizations serving the Marshallese and Latinx communities, community-based nonprofit organizations, local hospital systems, a federally qualified health center, the Veteran Health Administration, the Arkansas Department of Health, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands consulate. The partnerships were leveraged to develop and implement the Comprehensive Intervention to Reduce COVID-19 Disparities in Marshallese and Latinx Communities in Benton and Washington counties. The comprehensive intervention consisted of 4 components: (1) health education, (2) testing, (3) contact tracing, and (4) care navigation (case management) for supported quarantine. After implementation of the comprehensive intervention, the proportions of new weekly cases among Marshallese and Latinx residents declined and began to align more closely with the proportions of Marshallese and Latinx community members in the 2 counties.
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.
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Peer Review Study
The West Greenville Health Council (WGHC) engaged and activated a 27-member organizational partnership network for COVID-19 health communication and personal protective equipment (PPE) distribution in African American communities in Eastern North Carolina. Outreach included (1) local production and dissemination of culturally relevant safety videos; (2) risk, prevention, and safety postcard messages; (3) virtual forums; and (4) PPE kit distribution via the network and their distribution venues. Communication mediums included social media posts, network email distribution lists, and postcards distributed along with PPE kits. An online survey was used to gain insights on community perceptions of COVID-19 safety barriers and media messages. The activation of the network as an approach for rapid response to an emerging public health crisis greatly expanded the reach of the WGHC. The WGHC is working to institutionalize the network to address future emerging health threats, as well as the dissemination of health information more generally.
Best Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes when implemented in multiple real-life settings, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This multidisciplinary vaccine delivery strategy was implemented by the Puget Sound Veterans Affairs (VA) facility to mitigate inequities in COVID-19 vaccination among veterans. The practice, which followed the Equitable Vaccine Framework, was put in place in the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and entailed targeted outreach to individual patients based on a score consisting of the sum of risk factors for severe COVID-19 disease and high-risk race or ethnicity. The strategy included four main domains: allocation, outreach, delivery, and monitoring. The care system conducted sequential outreach using multiple communication modalities, worked with community partners to publicize and deploy mobile clinics to underserved areas, and monitored vaccination coverage rates by age, race, sex, and rural status at prespecified intervals and adjusted operations to ensure equity. During the vaccine drive, vaccination rates were higher among Black, multiracial, and Hispanic veterans, compared with white veterans.