New jersey initiative to address covid-19 public health disparities among populations at high-risk and underserved, including racial and ethnic minority populations and rural communities - new…

New jersey initiative to address covid-19 public health disparities among populations at high-risk and underserved, including racial and ethnic minority populations and rural communities - new jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation and has been significantly impacted by covid-19. As of march 31, 2021, the state had experienced over 800,000 confirmed cases and more than 22,000 confirmed or probable deaths due to covid-19 (new jersey cases, hospitalizations, and mortality (age-adjusted rate per 100,000 as of march 31, 2021). While the state has taken measures to mitigate the impacts of the covid-19, there continues to be a need to focus on covid-19 related health disparities. The new jersey department of health (njdoh) will submit its application to CDC-RFA-OT21-2103 for $25,073,006 to address covid-19 public health disparities among populations at high-risk and underserved, including racial and ethnic minority populations and rural communities. Of the $25,073,006, $500,000 or more will be dedicated to rural communities. Njdoh proposes activities across all four strategies: (1) resources and services; (2) data and reporting; (3) infrastructure support; and (4) partner mobilization. For strategy 1, proposed activity would increase access to testing and vaccination for vulnerable populations (activity 1.1). In addition, njdoh will request enhanced services in rural areas for additional testing and vaccination efforts at farms when migrant workers are present (activity 1.2). For strategy 2, proposed activity will improve data reporting to identify disparities in COVID19 outcomes and access to mitigation strategies, and facilitate integration of lessons learned from the pandemic in long-term public health planning.for strategy 3, proposed activities would enhance infrastructure support in high risk and underserved populations by the following activities: establish the COVID19 community corps among community-based organizations in each of the state?s 21 counties (activity 3.1); address COVID19 and chronic disease management among marginalized communities (activity 3.2); and identify public health workforce groups and provide crisis counseling/trauma informed care (activity 3.3). For strategy 4: proposed activities would advance health equity and address social determinants of health related to covid-19 through the following: support for community-based organizations to coordinate local covid-19MITIGATION events such as testing and vaccination through an ?ultra warm chain of trust? (activity 4.1); support community empowerment through the establishment of educational resource centers/hubs (e.g., public libraries) that includes access to physical and digital books as well as in-person education and social support resources (activity 4.2); and support community coalitions for individuals with chronic disease that will mobilize partnerships that address anticipated negative health outcomes due to covid-19 (activity 4.3). In addition to the activities, njdoh request to support three core staff positions who will work in all strategies of this grant. These positions will provide oversight, data analysis, and administrative support for all strategies. Collectively, these activities will facilitate equity in new jersey?s covid-19 mitigation efforts, address long-term impacts for disproportionately impacted communities, build resilience and address trauma within the public health workforce, and ensure that lessons learned from the pandemic are integrated in future public health planning. This funding opportunity will support njdoh?s commitment to a health equity approach to the pandemic, including testing, tracing and vaccination, with an emphasis on key stakeholders (community-based and faith-based organizations, federally qualified health centers) and key partnerships (inter-agency, state-local). Njdoh is grateful for this opportunity.