Monday, May 19, 2025
5/19/2025
San Diego COVID-19 Health Disparities Project - Background: The County of San Diego (COSD) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) serves as the local health department for the entire San Diego County region and all 3.3 million residents. Public Health Services (PHS) is a department within HHSA. PHS provides services that identify and address the root causes of priority health to advance health, equity, and well-being among all San Diego County residents. Early in 2020, PHS responded immediately and decisively to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic grew and evolved, PHS continually worked to strengthen and integrate medical resources and capacity, coordinate testing throughout the region, provide for case investigations and contact tracing, and direct the reporting of disease and other critical data to inform decision-making and guide an effective response. This work includes promoting health equity and increasing awareness and action to address health disparities. Success to-date rest largely on the strong collaborative spirit between the County, local city governments, and a vast array of organizations that have been effectively mobilized to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Purpose: The San Diego COVID-19 Health Disparities Project’s purpose is to expand and strengthen COVID-19 response and prevention capacity locally, while reducing related health disparities and advancing health equity. Through this award, PHS plans to expand testing, tracing, and vaccination capacity and services. The San Diego COVID-19 Health Disparities Project will also enhance the functionality of the COSD’s public health data systems to better guide COVID-19 prevention and response among San Diego’s diverse population. Additionally, this project will expand infrastructure support for COVID-19 prevention and control through partner mobilization that advances health equity plans, and by activation and engagement of underserved and disproportionately impacted communities. Expected Outcomes: The San Diego COVID-19 Disparities Project activities will result in the following outcomes: • Increased COVID-19 testing, tracing, and vaccination rates; • Improved linkages to health and social services for vulnerable populations; • Improved capacity of local public health data systems; • Expanded public health infrastructure for COVID-19 prevention and control; and • Improved community capacity. Together, these activities will reduce COVID-19 health disparities among vulnerable and at-risk communities. Conclusion: PHS is experienced in mobilizing to create healthier environments, improve health outcomes, and reduce health disparities. This funding opportunity will enable San Diego to expand resources that support mutually reinforcing strategies that improve the health of all San Diego county residents, particularly those most vulnerable and at-risk for poor health outcomes. With an already mobilized community and requisite organizational capacity, the County of San Diego is well positioned to activate resources in new and innovative ways to prevent continued COVID-19 transmission, improve COVID-19-related disparities, and prepare the region against future emergencies.
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).