Rapid Response Initiative in Latinx Community
Marginalized communities face various barriers when accessing health care and social services. These barriers have been further heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Community members voiced concerns to the Washtenaw County Health Department (WCHD) urging WCHD to think outside of the box and helped them reimagine specialized outreach efforts that are effective, efficient, and equitable for historically marginalized community members. These efforts have resulted in projects aimed at protecting vulnerable community members, such as those from the Latinx community.
Covid-19 Rapid Response Initiative
The Covid-19 Rapid Response Initiative emerged as a collaboration between Community Health Workers (CHWs), Community Voices for Health Equity Team, and WCHD to address COVID-19 disparities in Washtenaw County. This initiative ran through the months of September 2020-December 2020 and focused on increasing access to pop-up COVID-19 testing sites and flu vaccine clinics to populations in Washtenaw County who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 (particularly for African American, Arab/Middle Eastern, Latinx communities, and people living in the 48197/48198 zip codes).
At this time, the COVID-19 vaccine was not available yet. As flu season approached, COVID-19 was still widely circulating in the community, and many hospitals were at capacity. WCHD wanted to help as many people as possible get their flu vaccine to prevent COVID-19 and flu co-infections, and to help prevent people from needing to be hospitalized for the flu.
Since CHWs and the Community Voices Team were already connected to WCHD service delivery and rooted in local communities, they spearhead many of the outreach efforts. Some of the activities included:
- creating educational materials and messaging for COVID-19 and flu prevention
- engaging congregations and faith leaders in hosting pop-up testing sites and vaccine clinics
- conducting interviews with community members about flu vaccines, as well as strategies needed to improve access and vaccine confidence
- distributing medical and COVID-19 safety supplies
To maximize outreach efforts during this initiative, WCHD worked with well-known and trusted organizations to better serve marginalized communities. For example, 148 individuals were able to receive the flu vaccine at St. Francis of Assisi, a local community church. Many Latinx community members also received flu vaccines at grassroots organizations, such as Mutual Aid Network of Ypsilanti and Beautiful Gate Church, with the help of community organizations like Mexiquenses en Michigan.
WCHD staff and Community Voices Team volunteer working the Beautiful Gate flu clinic
Building Relationships
Traditionally, Día de Los Muertos (DDLM) is a day where Latinx individuals honor the loss of their loved ones with food, music, art, and alters. During the flu vaccination clinic at Westridge Mobile Home Park, community partners and WCHD staff showed respect for DDLM. Staff and volunteers partook in the celebration by handing out masks to individuals who came to the flu clinic. They also created an alter where individuals could honor their loved ones. The Latinx community felt seen and was very appreciative of this gesture. This helped build a good rapport between the Latinx community, community partners, and WCHD.
Flu clinic celebrating Día de Los Muertos
COVID-19 Rapid Response Results
Approximately 500 Latinx-identifying individuals were reached and assisted through the Covid-19 Rapid Response Initiative. This increase in vaccination rates among vulnerable populations helps keep Washtenaw safe.
Individuals reached in the COVID-19 RR Initiative by race/ethnicity
For all COVID-19 vaccine related questions, such as where, when, and how you or a loved one may obtain the vaccine, please visit the Washtenaw County Health Department Website. There, you will also find vaccine data and vaccine FAQs.
September 2021
Written by Guadalupe Cervantes, Community Health Educator with WCHD