Friday, April 25, 2025
4/25/2025
Closing the Gap on Covid-19 Through Improving Individual and Organizational Health Literacy - Gila County is a rural county as defined by HRSA with a total area of 4,795mi2 located in central Arizona. Gila County?s Covid-19 positivity rate of 9.0% and mortality rate of 402.5 per 100,000 highlights the significant and disproportionate impact Covid-19 has had on the rural county. In recent weeks, Gila County was leading Arizona?s resurgence of new Covid-19 cases and was recognized nationally as a hot spot for Covid-19 infections. Gila County has a high Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) score of 0.899 highlights a high level of vulnerability across the County. Additionally, when examining the four themes that comprise the SVI, Gila County has several regions scoring in the Top 4th for vulnerability. One way to improve the social vulnerability of the community is to develop individual and organizational health literacy skills. In an effort to impact health literacy skills and improve the Gila County communities vulnerability for the current Covid-19 Pandemic and impact health in the longer term, Gila County Public Health and Emergency Management identified partners representing Fire & EMS, Behavioral Health, Hospital and Primary Care, and Community Non-Profits across the County to come together with their Minority Serving Institution Evaluation Partner (Morrison Institute at Arizona State University) to develop health impact statements and action plans. These organizations will identify champions will support the action plans implementation throughout their organizations and across the community. Partners will receive sub-awards in the amount of $250,000 across the 2-year project period for their active participation in the development and implementation of the health literacy action plans, data collection, quality improvement and other evaluation activities. Monthly data reporting from partners will provide information on (1) the evidence-based health literacy interventions implemented, (2) the number of community members impacted by the intervention, (3) demographic characteristics of the population served and their alignment with the disparity impact statement, and (4) data (stratified by demographics characteristics) on changes in access, use, and outcomes of Covid-19 vaccination, testing and preventative behaviors. Other data available specific to HP 2030 objectives (HC/HIT-01-03 & IID-D02) focusing on the patient and provider communication and patient decision making related to their care will also be reported.Evaluators will monitor community Covid-19 vaccination, testing and outcomes data (stratified by demographics) along with quarterly data submitted by partners. Data summaries prepared quarterly will be used to facilitate quarterly reviews with partners to review data reporting/tracking, trends, data-driven recommendations (consideration for data stratified by demographic characteristics), and other opportunities to better target populations in the health impact statements. Action plans will be updated, and changes documented (as needed). The evaluation team will also collect and share feedback from partners and recipients of services (e.g., interviews or focus groups). All partners will be convened in-person bi-annually to review progress, gain insights from other partners, share successes, and ensure that organizations are creating connections for future sustainability. Technical assistance and support will be provided throughout the duration of the project via public health professionals, health literacy experts, evaluation team members, and quality improvement professionals.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).