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Regular Agenda Item 3. D.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	06/01/2021
Submitted For:	Michael O'Driscoll
Submitted By:	Veronica Hernandez, Client Outreach Specialist
Department:	Health & Emergency Management

Information

Request/Subject

Health Literacy Initiative; addressing COVID-19 pandemic in underserved communities

Background Information

As part of President Biden’s National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness today, the Administration is announcing an effort to invest $250 million to encourage COVID-19 safety and vaccination among underserved populations. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) will offer the funding as health literacy grants to localities, who will partner with community-based organizations, to reach racial and ethnic minority, rural, and other vulnerable populations. The new initiative is expected to fund approximately 30 projects in urban communities and 43 projects in rural communities for two years.

Recipients are expected to develop a disparity impact statement using local data to identify underserved populations at the highest risk for health disparities, low health literacy, and not being engaged or reached through existing public health messages and approaches for promoting COVID-19 public health recommendations. They will create and put into action a health literacy plan, partnering with community-based organizations and adhering to culturally and linguistically appropriate standards, to increase the availability, acceptability, and use of COVID-19 public health information and services by underserved populations and others considered vulnerable for not receiving and using COVID-19 public health information.

Gila County Public Health was notified about this grant opportunity on March 15th, 2021 by Senator Sinema's office. After reaching out to our consultant list, ASU and U of A, and our local stakeholders the decision was made to complete an expedited contract for the May 20, 2021 application deadline. The grant opportunity allows for 73 awards of up to 3 million dollars each. The Gila County application is for $2,571,740 with no match required. This sum includes $1,750,000 in mini-grant for local Gila County organizations. The anticipated grant period will be July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023.

Evaluation

Gila County Health and Emergency Management will utilize the funding to address health literacy in the underserved populations of Gila County in partnership with Banner Payson Medical Center, Canyonlands Healthcare, Horizon Health & Wellness, Arizona Youth Partnership, Town of Miami - Senior Center, and the Town of Payson Fire Department.

Project partners will work to address the following objectives: (1) Address barriers to accurate and reliable health information during the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) Apply health literacy and plain language principles to improve communication and understanding among vaccine-hesitant and vulnerable populations, and (3) Identify, disseminate or develop COVID-19 resources and responses to meet the literacy, language, and cultural needs of diverse audiences through the development of health impact statements and health literacy action plans.

Conclusion

To utilize this funding opportunity to address health literacy for the COVID-19 pandemic in Gila County's underserved communities, this funding will focus on preventing illness and saving lives in Gila County underserved populations to improve testing, vaccination, and knowledge around COVID-19. Additionally, this funding will be a financial boost to our local community partners who work with underserved populations in their day-to-day activities.

Recommendation

It is the recommendation of the Finance Director and the Health and Emergency Management Division Director that the Board of Supervisors approve the grant application for the Health Literacy Initiative in the amount of $2,571,740 with $1,750,000 dedicated to local organizations that serve underserved communities, and no match required. This funding will address the COVID-19 pandemic in Gila County's underserved communities with anticipated dates of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to approve the grant application for Health Literacy Initiative funding in the amount of $2,571,740 with $1,750,000 dedicated to local organizations that serve underserved communities which will be used to address the COVID-19 pandemic in Gila County's underserved communities with anticipated dates of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023. (Michael O'Driscoll)

Attachments
Appendix A; Partners List
Appendix B; Grant Proposal
Appendix C; Organizational Chart
Appendix D; Grant Key Proposal
Appendix E; Target Populations
Section 1-3 Grant proposal
Section 4; Narrative
Budget