Sunday, November 24, 2024
11/24/2024
People of color and communities with fewer resources experience higher rates of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths throughout the pandemic and now face lower rates of COVID-19 vaccinations when compared to Los Angeles County overall. Efforts to close the gaps in COVID-19 outcomes (e.g., rates of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, deaths) and increase utilization of public health mitigation practices (e.g., testing, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation, and vaccination) require targeted investments in community-based strategies that quantify and monitor population-specific needs; center, mobilize, and coordinate trusted messengers in local communities; and bolster partner networks comprised of service providers and people with lived experience, subject matter expertise, and an overall understanding of the complex needs experienced by communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Los Angeles County (LAC) benefits greatly from a robust community-based infrastructure with demonstrated success and nimbleness in supporting residents at highest risk during this pandemic. The PARTNER Project builds upon this infrastructure by bringing together the LAC Department of Public Health (DPH), community based organizations (CBOs), regionally based service providers, data collection and reporting entities, essential workers, internal and external advisory bodies, and others to eliminate inequities in COVID-19 related health outcomes, increase use of public health practices that limit the spread of COVID-19, and sustain equitable response and recovery activities beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the PARTNER Project will (1) Expand provision of mitigation and prevention services (e.g., contact tracing, system navigation, education and outreach) to reduce COVID-19 related disparities among priority populations, (2) Improve data collection and reporting for priority populations experiencing disproportionate COVID-19 related impacts, ( 3) Build upon existing infrastructure to sustain equitable practices during COVID-19 prevention and control activities, and (4) Mobilize partners to advance health equity and address social determinants during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Local data clearly elucidate areas of need that must be addressed through the PARTNER Project, including geographic regions highly impacted by COVID-19 such as densely populated portions of Los Angeles County including South Los Angeles (e.g., Historic South Central Los Angeles), Southeast Los Angeles (e.g., Vernon, Cudahy, Bell, Paramount, Maywood, South Gate, Bell Gardens), and the North East San Fernando Valley (e.g., Pacoima, Sun Valley, Arleta) and more sparsely populated areas in the Antelope Valley (e.g., Palmdale, Lancaster, Lake Los Angeles, Littlerock, Hi Vista). Additionally, racial/ethnic groups that are often medically underserved and more likely to experience severe COVID-19 related outcomes due to a non-geographic distribution of community members and disproportionality in chronic disease rates, including Pacific Islanders and American Indian/Alaska Natives, as well as populations who cross-cut geography and racial/ethnic identity, such as immigrants (non-US born persons), LGBTQ+ communities, and people with disabilities, are all priority populations that the PARTNER Project will serve.
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).
