Adapting to COVID-19 - May/June 2020

The three equity workgroups met on May 21 & June 4 to discuss how to move forward with equity projects in light of COVID-19 changes to environment, provider capacity, and priorities in the community. Notes, slides, and summaries from those discussion below.

Full notes
Slides

Affordable Housing
This group decided to prioritize Activity 1 (education & outreach to policymakers & landlords), shifting the focus to advocacy on rental assistance needs emerging in COVID. Amber Johnson of SNAP will continue to be activity lead. The group wants to come back to Activities 2 & 3 (transportation pilot & Responsible Renters curriculum) in the future, but focus bandwidth on Activity 1 to start.

Reducing Family Violence & Trauma
This group will move forward with offering parent & caregiver support trainings, and connecting those trainings to resources & incentives such as food and financial assistance. Some adaptations will be needed for trainings & support group format for social distancing.

Accessing Behavioral Health
This group saw that stigma about asking for mental health help may be lessened during this time, because it’s happening to everyone. They saw an opportunity to “skip ahead” to the steps of getting out messaging about available resources. The group still wants to take a look at how to use CHWs/Peers (broadly defined) to reach isolated individuals, but focus on messaging to start.