U01MD017433

Community Activation to Transform Local Systems (Catalyst) - Project Abstract

Community health workers (CHWs) played an essential role in addressing multi-level, community barriers to accessing COVID-19 information, testing, risk mitigation, and vaccination. However, little is known about how CHWs managed their roles in light of enormous social, community, and political challenges.

In May 2020, the Orange County Health Equity COVID-19 Community-Academic Partnership was formed with community-based health equity leaders and health equity academic partners. The purpose was to elevate the need for and guide local COVID-19 equity response and recovery initiatives. Equitable recovery must address larger civic engagement needs, and CHWs were essential to navigating rising anti-immigrant attitudes and promoting civic engagement for census complete count and elections turnout, in addition to COVID-19 education and chronic disease management.

In this study, we aim to:

(1) Examine, from the perspective of CHWs and community members, the facilitators, barriers, and processes of change in delivering COVID-19 response and chronic disease management CHW intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. In partnership with five community-based organizations, we will conduct focus groups in the areas with the highest social vulnerability to COVID-19 in Orange County, CA.

(2) Assess the systemic factors that enhance inequities in COVID-19 testing, cases, and vaccines in Orange County areas with the highest social vulnerability to COVID-19. Through interviews with community leaders and policy stakeholders, we will identify the multilevel contextual factors that contribute to successes and challenges of CHWs and community members to access COVID-19 education, testing, and vaccinations.

(3) Analyze how advocacy efforts implemented by CHWs and community-based organizations shape the COVID-19 response. We will recruit and interview CHWs from across California to identify the degree to which Orange County's community responses and resiliencies are generalizable to diverse populations across the state.

Strengths of this study include our responsiveness to community-driven COVID-19 interventions, the integration of chronic disease management into the study of COVID-19 responses, a focus on CHW efforts to ensure access to COVID-19 resources and to build consciousness among community members and transform local COVID-19 responses, strong community and university leadership, and multilevel assessments of COVID-19 interventions.

We will advance knowledge about processes of change in COVID-19 CHW interventions in communities with the highest social vulnerability to COVID-19. The results of this study will inform policy recommendations to strengthen equitable COVID-19 recovery and prepare for future public health crises and serve as a model of CBPR nationwide.

Irvine University Of California

NOT APPLICABLE

93.360 - Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Biodefense Medical Countermeasure Development

National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) [HHS - NIH]

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [HHS - NIH]

Irvine, California 92697 United States

Single Zip Code

Emergency Award: RADx-UP - Social, Ethical, and Behavioral Implications (SEBI) Research on Disparities in COVID-19 Testing among Underserved and Vulnerable Populations (U01 Clinical Trials Optional) (RFA-OD-21-009)

COVID-19 $1,156,458 (100%) percent of this Cooperative Agreement was funded by COVID-19 emergency acts including the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 11/30/23 to 11/30/24 and the total obligations have increased 94% from $595,273 to $1,156,458.