Cooperative Agreement VSRNV000007

ADDRESSING VACCINATION CONFIDENCE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF ROBESON AND BERTIE COUNTIES, NORTH CAROLINA, WITH FOCUS IN BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES, AND AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES. - ALLIANCE FOR A HEALTHIER GENERATION (HEALTHIER GENERATION) IS CALLED INTO ACTION TO ADDRESS VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES (VPDS) IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA (NC), NAMELY ROBESON AND BERTIE COUNTIES, IN RESPONSE TO LOCAL HEALTH NETWORK DATA AND OUR LOCAL KNOWLEDGE DERIVED FROM LONG-STANDING PRESENCE AND EXPERIENCE ACROSS THE STATE, WHICH INFORMS OUR ONGOING WORK TO ACHIEVE EQUITABLE WHOLE CHILD HEALTH. HEALTHIER GENERATION'S COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) STUDENTS AND CAREGIVERS IN THESE COUNTIES IS DRIVEN BY A KEEN UNDERSTANDING THAT HEALTH INEQUITIES HISTORICALLY IMPACTING MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS WERE GRAVELY COMPOUNDED BY COVID-19. A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE EFFECTIVE AT INCREASING REQUIRED AND VOLUNTARY VACCINES. SCHOOLS ARE OFTEN THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE COUNTY AND TOUCH A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION. PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE IN REACHING ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND PREVENTATIVE HEALTH APPROACHES, INCLUDING VOLUNTARY AND REQUIRED VACCINATIONS. THROUGH OUR TARGETED HANDS-ON SUPPORT, COMBINED WITH ONGOING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WE SEEK TO DECREASE VACCINE COMPLACENCY AND INCREASE VACCINE CONFIDENCE OF PRODUCTS, PROVIDERS, AND POLICES AMONG STUDENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND STAFF WHILE PUTTING SUPPORTS IN PLACE TO INCREASE THEIR ACCESS TO VACCINES. BY THE END OF YEAR THREE OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION, WE WILL ADDRESS RACIAL AND HEALTH INEQUITIES TO ALLOW FOR INCREASED VACCINE CONFIDENCE AS MEASURED (AMONG OTHER INDICATORS) BY THE PERCENT OF STUDENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND STAFF IN BERTIE COUNTY SCHOOLS AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF ROBESON COUNTY RECEIVING VOLUNTARY AND ROUTINE VACCINATIONS, TO MEET OR EXCEED NATIONAL AVERAGES.