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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 article discusses an academic-health department community partnership that was developed to expand disease investigation and contact tracing capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership involved a local county health department and a local university, which collaborated to address the lack of workforce capacity and technology needed for efficient disease control measures. The program added 108 contact tracers to the county’s public health workforce and enabled remote work using a call center app and secure cloud-based platform. The article outlines the requirements for developing the program, such as hiring, health data security protocols, and data source management, and shares lessons learned from the partnership. The innovative program improved disease investigation and contact tracing efforts, allowing for better control of the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
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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Case Study
A large school district in Cincinnati partnered with their local health department and children’s hospital to develop mitigation procedures as children returned to school. These mitigation procedures successfully limited school-based spread of COVID-19 by combining best practices in rapid testing, contact tracing, and early isolation. Procedures were regularly revisited and updated in an iterative process to respond to new information and circumstances.
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
Mask mandates in states beginning in 2020 had a significant impact on COVID-19-related hospitalizations. This study recommends revisiting mask mandates as new variants of COVID-19 spread and pressures return to the healthcare system.
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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Summary Report/Recommendations
A recommendations report for advancing health equity in the Massachusetts Legislature. Especially as the state continues response to and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, the report ultimately emphasizes the necessity of an equity lens in decision-making. Its guiding principles also include the need for the community to be a partner and have a voice in government decision-making, the need for complete and actionable data, and the acknowledgement that returning to the pre-pandemic “normal” is not an option when attempting to alleviate the disparities created by that “normal”. The report outlines immediate, intermediate, and long term actions towards health equity on a policy level. These recommendations impact healthcare, social determinants of health, governance, and more.
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.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
Document outlines the strategic diversity, equity, and inclusion plan for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Emphasizes the need for staff that reflects the diversity of communities served. Provides practical goals and strategies for 2021-2023.
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.
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Peer Review Study
Youth nationwide face new intensified stressors like illness, death, social isolation, economic stress, food insecurity, family hardship, and increase domestic violence risk. These stressors are associated with outcomes like depression, behavioral problems, anxiety disorders, and worsened existing mental health conditions. School-based health centers (SBHCs) are a cost-effective health care delivery model that increases mental and behavioral health access and use. SBHC patients live in underserved communities and are at a greater risk for mental health issues. The qualitative data from this study highlight increased demand for mental health services and a lack of resources to meet this demand, resources to ensure universal telehealth technology access are needed to improve health care access for youth, and parental buy-in and support are crucial component of sustained care.
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.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
Data from the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (AMES) was used by CDC to assess 9th-12th grade student behaviors and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of poor mental health and suicidality was high across students of all sex, sexual identity, and racial and ethnic groups; however, poor mental health, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors were less prevalent among those who felt close to persons at school and were virtually connected with others during the pandemic. The mental health of youth might be improved via strategies that improve connections with others at home, in the community, and at school.
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.
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Toolkit
This toolkit was created by Willow House to provide information and tools to school staff as they support students going through the grieving process during the COVID-19 pandemic. This document includes information on common grief reactions, level of understanding of death and loss by age group, and ways to encourage and guide students through self-care and coping practices.
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.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
This article recognizes the challenges and describes the adaptations necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. It also emphasizes employee mental health needs. A theoretical framework for organizational interventions is included that utilizes an Occupational Health Psychology approach. The proposed interventions focus on 8 key topics, such as physical health and safety, and psychological wellbeing, in addition to a tiered structure (primary, secondary, and tertiary) of proposed intervention activities that scale based on need.
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 resource discusses Project: ACE-IT which is a school-based testing intervention implemented in Pennsylvania. The goal of the program was to reduce in-school transmission risks through routine testing for symptomatic and possibly asymptomatic staff and students. This program was originally adapted from a school-based program in Texas, and has expanded using a ‘train the trainer’ model with materials available on the website.