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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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This episode from the podcast 99 Percent Invisible reflects on how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the American public to a long-standing problem: the disjointed nature of the U.S. health system. Because state and local health departments largely operate independently and use their own data collection and analysis tools, health systems across the country lack standardized data definitions and systems. These inconsistencies made it nearly impossible to collect and analyze comprehensive, standardized data on COVID-19 cases, deaths, and vaccines administered amid the pandemic. Health experts featured on this episode believe that the pandemic made the need for an overhaul of America’s informatics system very apparent. When rebuilding this system, it’s important to focus on remedying existing inequalities in data collection and classification that in some cases render the health status of certain populations – think Native American communities and other communities of color – completely invisible in the data. By virtue of being small populations, it can be difficult for health departments to collect sufficient and/or statistically significant data on minority communities. Another issue discussed in this episode is the use of broad racial categories like “other,” “multiple races,” or even “Asian American,” which, if not disaggregated, obscures the health status of diverse populations who are grouped under the same category. Without comprehensive and inclusive health data, it’s difficult to identify disparities and implement policies and programming that promote social mobility and health equity.
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
The Community Outreach Specialist (COS) program aimed to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake among rural communities through targeted outreach efforts. The program trained and deployed community outreach specialists who engaged with community members, provided education about COVID-19 and vaccination, addressed concerns and misconceptions, and facilitated access to vaccination services. The COS program in reaching and engaging with socially vulnerable and medically underserved populations, successfully increasing vaccine acceptance and uptake in these communities by building trust, addressing barriers to vaccination, and tailoring outreach strategies to the local context. The article discusses the importance of community-based approaches, cultural competency, and collaboration with local organizations and leaders in achieving successful vaccine outreach. It also emphasizes the need for sustained efforts to ensure equitable access to vaccination and to address disparities in vaccine uptake among different populations.
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:
Peer Review Study
This study discusses how a team of public health researchers and legal scholars with expertise in racial equity used systematic policy surveillance methods to develop a comprehensive database of state laws that are explicitly or implicitly related to structural racism, with the goal of evaluating their effects on health outcomes among marginalized racial and ethnic groups.
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 is an assessment of the association between hospitalization for illness from COVID-19 infection and chronic conditions among Medicare beneficiaries (MBs) with fee-for-service (FFS) claims by race and ethnicity for January 1–September 30, 2020. Racial/ethnic disparities in hospitalization rates persist among MBs with COVID-19, and associations of COVID-19 hospitalization with chronic conditions differ among racial/ethnic groups in the U.S.
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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Peer Review Study
The UN warned that the pandemic would disproportionately impact Indigenous people because of underlying health inequities associated with SDOH. This paper can help with “visioning” action for response and recovery. It highlights data, in Hawaii, and 4 other western States, showing that MHPI have high rates of COVID-19. Reliable and timely data are vital (longstanding issues). The higher risk of infection among NHPI is linked to preexisting health inequities. Chronic medical conditions, linked to the SDOH, are high. The paper highlights the economic conditions of the NHPI population, and emerging behavioral health impact of COVID-19. It also mentions the resilience and cultural assets of NHPI Communities, including the values and practices of aloha (compassion), malama (caring) and lokahi (unity). Recommendations: an emergency response plan developed through engagement with NNHPI stakeholders, and a longer term recovery plan to address employment, education, the racial wealth gap, food insecurity, housing, healthcare, criminal justice, and legal issues.
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.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
The Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community experienced high COVID-19 case rates by April 2020, in addition to chronic diseases and socioeconomic disparities, so NHPI networks were mobilized to address the crisis, and a COVID-19 Response, Recovery and Resilience team was created. The team consists of multiple committees that examine policy; testing, contact tracing, and isolation; communications; social supports and resources; and data and research. This article discusses the development of a cultural framework to guide culturally informed advocacy efforts to ensure an appropriate response and recovery plan for NHPI that extends beyond COVID-19 to addressing longstanding NHPI disparities.
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:
Peer Review Study
In June 2020, Northwest Arkansas was a COVID-19 hotspot, with serious racial and ethnic disparities. Existing community-engaged partnerships utilized their collaborative capacity to address COVID-19 disparities in the Latinx and Pacific Islander communities. Eighteen key partners held weekly meetings and regular communication and developed four strategies: (1): health education (prevention, testing, quarantine, and follow-up care) and prevention (communication re: practices to reduce risk); (2) testing; (3) a dedicated contact tracing center with bilingual workers; (4) enhanced case management and supported quarantine.
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 practice traces a 14-year partnership between health institutions and a rural Native Hawaiian community. The partnership began as a single study to study familial cardiomyopathy, then evolved towards a community-based project to improve overall health and wellbeing. As time went on, other institutions and community leaders became involved. The article focuses on the growth of institutional capacity and community service. Lessons learned can serve to engage communities in COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures.
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 practice details the use of a classroom based, culturally grounded curriculum to prevent substance use among rural Hawaiian youth. Youth were exposed to the curriculum over a period of 2 years, and although substance use increased among control and intervention groups, the intervention group had significantly smaller increases. The curriculum focuses on resistance skills training for middle school aged youth, using video vignettes of Hawaiian youth engaged in realistic drug-related problem situations. Similar approaches could prove useful when informing Hawaiian youth about COVID-19 mitigation strategies.
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 study recommends that governments should continue to fund and prioritize use of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as major vaccine administration sites. This retrospective cohort study examines COVID-19 vaccination administration rates at FQHCs by race and ethnicity and also the racial and ethnic equity in vaccine receipt at FQHCs. The results of the study found that vaccine administration at FQHCs was equitable for American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Hispanic populations, but there were inequities for the Black population. FQHCs have provided critical access to COVID-19 vaccinations for patients from diverse racial and ethnic groups. This resource may help motivate governments to continue funding and prioritizing the use of FQHCs by showing that these health centers have provided access to COVID-19 vaccinations for patients from diverse economic, racial, and ethnic groups.