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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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White Paper/Brief
This article discusses the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE) distribution of $1.3 million in grants to organizations studying the potential permanent adoption of COVID-19 care access measures to promote health equity in opioid use disorder treatment. The grants aim to investigate the impact of temporary policies, such as virtual care, on access to care and patient outcomes. The studies will explore how relaxed prescribing policies for buprenorphine, telehealth strategies, and other COVID-19 measures have affected patient access and outcomes, particularly among underserved populations. The research will inform evidence-based policies to sustain access to better care beyond the pandemic and address the ongoing opioid crisis.
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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Case Study
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) oversees programs and services for older adults through the aging service network, and worked closely with the COVID-19 command center during the COVID-19 pandemic. EOEA worked with senior affordable housing providers and advocated for vaccines for older adult populations. They also used their network to disseminate COVID-19 information to older adults, caregivers, and those working directly with older adults.
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
Asabor and colleagues investigate the relationship between levels of segregation and the distribution of testing sites in four cities. Segregation refers to the extent of distance between neighborhoods of color and White neighborhoods. The highest levels of segregation are between Blacks and Whites, however, there is segregation between other communities of color and White communities. The authors compiled a list COVID-19 testing sites per Census tract through June 2020. And, in parallel, Asabor and colleagues identified the four most segregated cities in the U.S. in order to conduct a focused analysis. These cities are: New York, Los Angeles, Houston, and Chicago. In New York, Houston, and Chicago, there is an inverse relationship between percentage of Blacks in a Census tract and the number of testing sites. And, in Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles there is a similar negative relationship for Latinx.
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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Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis
There are widespread concerns that ethnic minorities and migrants may have inadequate access to COVID-19 vaccines. Improving vaccine uptake among these vulnerable groups is important towards controlling the spread of COVID-19 and reducing unnecessary mortality. The data from this systematic review shows that low confidence in COVID-19 vaccines among Black ethnic minorities driven by mistrust and safety concerns led to high vaccine hesitancy in this group. For migrants, convenience factors such as language barriers, fear of deportation, and reduced physical access to COVID-19 vaccines. Building trust, reducing physical barriers and improving communication transparency about vaccine development through healthcare workers, and religious and community leaders can improve access and facilitate uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines among ethnic minority and migrant communities.
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
This study aimed to determine independent community pharmacist preparedness for COVID-19 vaccination and to identify strategies for COVID-19 vaccination implementation in Pennsylvania. Through surveys and focus groups these recommendations emerged: (1) working with community partners to support off-site mass vaccination clinics, (2) leverage partnerships with community organizations and universities to support staffing for vaccination efforts, (3) use an appointment-based immunization model, (4) use existing scheduling tools, text messaging, and automated phone calls for second-dose reminders, and (5) further training and process improvements to support vaccine documentation and transmission to the Pennsylvania Statewide Immunization Information System.
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
Among groups living in vulnerable conditions, the pandemic substantially magnified the inequality gaps, with possible negative implications for these individuals’ long-term physical, socioeconomic, and mental wellbeing. The recommendations presented in this Viewpoint article have been prioritised and agreed upon by the Lancet Commission on COVID-19’s Task Force on Social Protection, Humanitarian Action, and Vulnerable Group experts. This Viewpoint lists recommendations to protect vulnerable populations and reduce health inequities: (1) execute universal health coverage and social protection systems in every country, (2) at the country-level, ensure that governments and parliaments commit to financing and safeguarding health and social services to support universalism and equity, (3) provide digital equity for all, (4) boost care economy and take immediate steps to transform the current model, (5) re-energise relationships between government and civil society actors, and ensure communities, marginalized populations, and gender identities have a central role in decision making.
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
In the United States, mobile health clinics are an important method for delivering high quality care to medically underserved populations. To address declining vaccination coverage among young children in Boston during the pandemic, Mattapan Community Health Center (Mattapan) and Codman Square Health Center (Codman Square) partnered with the Kraft Center for Community Health at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers to deploy a pediatric mobile health clinic as an adjunct to their in-person clinical services.
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.
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 report details the immense toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken, and continues to take, on Black communities. The report’s authors – physicians and public health and policy experts – note massive disparities experienced by Black Americans. The worse outcomes, are a predictable result of structural and social realities. The predicates that caused these disparities have long been present. These are cycles we have to break. The report highlights areas for immediate focus and attention, and presents a set of expert-generated recommendations for action.
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
Filipinx/a/o Americans (FilAMS), are the third-largest Asian American group in the US. They are frequently invisible in health services research and policy, and consequently, are an afterthought in resource allocation decisions. This paper highlights historical and modern practices that impinge on FilAm health. FilAms, who experience long standing health disparities, are heavily engaged in front line health care work, but also have pre-existing health conditions and are likely to live in multigenerational household, both factors that contribute to the burden of COVID-19. Mental health concerns, elevated among front-line and essential workers during the pandemic, were compounded by anti-Asian racism and violence. The authors encourage strategies such as naming neocolonial forces that devalue and neglect FilAms, and making changes to the data collection infrastructure to facilitate the allocation of appropriate resources. Recommendations: investments that prioritize community needs, equitable resource sharing, community-led efforts, and empower communities through capacity building and interdisciplinary research.