The Health District was alerted by Health and Human Services last week that its Office of Minority Health (OMH) anticipates making up to 73 awards of $2-4M focused on “Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Responses to COVID-19.”

The funding is for an initiative to demonstrate the effectiveness of local “grassroots” efforts to improve the access, use, and outcomes of vaccination, testing, contact tracing, and health behaviors related to COVID-19 among racial and ethnic minority populations, including those in rural communities.

OMH expects projects funded through this initiative to: 1) use evidence-based, culturally and linguistically appropriate health literacy strategies to increase health literacy for COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, vaccination, and/or other mitigation measures (e.g., public health prevention practices); and 2) document participation in COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, vaccination, and/or other mitigation measures (e.g., public health prevention practices).

The grant application has not yet been released but is expected to be due sometime in February. Staff feels this aligns well with our strategic plan and proposed policy priorities for 2021 and requests Board approval to apply as soon as the application is released. Staff also plans to have discussions with other possible partners.  

Consistent with Resolution 19-20 and the revised Division of Responsibilities (10/8/19), the Board of Health retains contract approval authority for new, extending, or renewing grants and contracts over $50,000 or that require matching funds.

MOVE TO authorize the Administrative Officer to apply for the HHS grant for “Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Responses to COVID-19”