Virginia beach health dept. Initiative to address covid-19 health disparities among populations at high-risk and underserved - the virginia beach department of public health (VBDPH) is committed to…

Virginia beach health dept. Initiative to address covid-19 health disparities among populations at high-risk and underserved - the virginia beach department of public health (VBDPH) is committed to reducing the burden of covid-19 among populations disproportionately affected, by working collaboratively with key partners who have existing community and social service delivery programs for racial and ethnic minority groups, vulnerable populations, and people living in rural areas. VBDPH is a cooperatively funded health department through the virginia department of health (VDH) and the city of virginia beach (CVB). CVB is home to approximately 450,000 residents, where the population is 20% black, 8.5% hispanic, 7.4% asian, and approximately 13% speak a primary language other than english at home and 9% are foreign-born. With 35,510 cases of covid-19 as of may 3, 2021, including 6,269 cases amongst the black population (17.7%), 2,088 cases are amongst the latino population (5.9%), 1,539 are amongst asian and pacific islanders (4.5%), and 1,113 amongst other races or individuals representing two or more races (3.1%), the impacts of covid-19 has spared no community in CVB. VBDPH plans to address existing covid-19 health disparities through the following activities. Representatives of at-risk groups, as well as many of the community service providers who serve populations of higher risk of covid-19 related health disparities, will serve on an executive health equity, diversity and inclusion (HEDI) board. Community advisory groups will be formed out of this board to work with specific geographic areas of the city (including rural areas), cultural populations, and vulnerable populations. This group will help develop and adapt evidence-based policies, systems, and environmental strategies to mitigate social and health inequities related to covid-19 in collaboration with major academic centers including historically black colleges and universities. VBDPH will lead an initiative that includes care coordination efforts in targeted communities to help address holistic health acce SS for our vulnerable populations to include expansion of testing and vaccination opportunities as well as resource and referral access through a mobile team of healthcare professionals. The mobile team will operate during non-traditional hours including evenings and weekends. Through VBDPH?S partnership with CVB?S office of emergency management, we will use data and modeling capabilities to identify areas at highest risk and lowest opportunity. Additionally, VBDPH will partner with local experts to increase effectiveness of data and reporting through the development of a representative database and predictive analytical tool. This integrated database will create a regularly updated data infrastructure to address clinical and policy questions pertaining to covid-19 response. VBDPH will coordinate a scientifically, culturally, and linguistically responsive covid-19 communications initiative so that the agency will be able to reach audiences of varying cultural, linguistic, and literacy levels. This information will be made available in multiple languages for individuals who are not english speaking and for audiences with auditory and visual impairments or other physical and functional limitations. Lastly, a comprehensive review of all local health emergency plans will be made through an equity lens to ensure all planning is responsive to the greater impacts of covid-19 on underserved populations and the longer recovery times faced by such communities.