NH75OT000083

San Antonio Metropolitan Health District's Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Populations at High-Risk and Underserved, Including Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations and Rural

The City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) provides services to both the City of San Antonio, which is the 7th largest city in the US and the second largest city in Texas, and Bexar County. In 2019, an estimated 2.004 million people lived in Bexar County, with 1.508 million living in San Antonio. San Antonio is a majority-minority city, with 60% of the population identifying as Hispanic/Latino, 29% as non-Hispanic white, and 7% as non-Hispanic African American. While Bexar County is primarily an urban community, 2% of the population resides in rural areas.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has disproportionately affected populations in San Antonio and Bexar County who carry the heaviest burden from social determinants of health. Although Hispanic/Latinos comprise 60% of the population, 75% of the COVID-19 cases are reported in this group. Hispanic/Latinos are not only burdened by cases of COVID-19, but they are also disproportionately affected by hospitalizations and deaths due to the virus. These outcomes reflect that the Hispanic/Latino community has disproportionately higher rates of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Chronic disease is further exacerbated by individuals experiencing barriers to accessing healthcare and other issues that affect their overall health status.

According to the Health Equity Index Map, racial minorities experience the highest rates of health disparities in three areas of San Antonio: South, West, and East. Many residents in these areas are experiencing obesity, diabetes, and kidney disease, which are risk factors for severe illness from COVID-19. Metro Health will address COVID-19-related health disparities and advance health equity by implementing innovative population-based mitigation and prevention strategies.

Metro Health's organizational capacity will be expanded by developing an Office of Policy and Partnerships and by elevating the position of the Office of Health Equity. Each office will provide overarching technical assistance to the entire department and have representation on the department's leadership team. Activities will be completed through a multi-faceted Metro Health team and several collaborating partners and stakeholders, such as UT Health School of Public Health, Bexar County Health Collaborative, faith-based organizations, and others, to enhance case investigations, contact notifications, and create processes to address health and social needs as they are identified.

City Of San Antonio

NOT APPLICABLE

93.354 - Public Health Emergency Response: Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis Response

CDC Office of Financial Resources (OFR) [HHS - CDC]

Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support (CSTLTS) [HHS - CDC]

San Antonio, Texas United States

City-Wide

National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Populations at High-Risk and Underserved, Including Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations and Rural Communities (CDC-RFA-OT21-2103)

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 05/31/23 to 03/24/25 and the total obligations have decreased 2% from $26,596,171 to $26,080,076.