Together Against COVID-19

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Multicultural Health Foundation (MHF) was awarded the Community Health Worker (CHW) Outreach and Engagement Contract from the County of San Diego to ensure that African American/Black residents throughout the County had access to accurate, consistent, and timely information regarding the COVID-19 virus. This work resulted in increased participation in COVID-19 testing, treatment, social protocols, and greater trust in public health information.

MHF implemented and managed a comprehensive and culturally sensitive community educational and outreach campaign in collaboration with trusted messengers and subcontracted partners. Together, they delivered health promotion and prevention messages tailored to the unique strengths and challenges of San Diego County’s 180,000 African American/Black residents. MHF’s approach included media and marketing efforts, group and individual education, and virtual and in-person sessions through community-based and faith-based organizations.

With hesitancy hindering vaccine uptake, it was essential to place physical and digital advertisements throughout the County where community members would engage with the Together Against COVID campaign. These ads directed residents to the Black COVID Facts website (www.blackcovidfactsssd.org), which provided information about vaccines, vaccine sites, appointments, events, resources, FAQs, and more.

The San Diego County COVID-19 Equity Task Force

The San Diego County COVID-19 Equity Task Force, as established and coordinated by MHF, is an innovative volunteer community-based coalition of stakeholders organized to discuss, advocate, and help implement policies and strategies to address the disproportionate negative impact the Coronavirus disease is inflicting on the diverse and vulnerable populations in the San Diego community.

Local respected African American/Black physicians—Dr. Rodney Hood, Dr. Robert Gillespie, and Dr. Suzanne Afflalo—who have long-standing medical practices, strong and trusted professional and personal relationships, and an unmatched understanding of the health and socioeconomic challenges in the African American/Black community, are the founding members of this collaborative Task Force.

The Task Force was established in March 2020 and operates from an equity lens with an emphasis on education and outreach, data, and the 3Ts: testing, tracing, and treatment.

The Task Force’s initial goals are as follows:

  • Establish drive-through and walk-up long-term test sites in Southeastern San Diego and other high-impact communities.
  • Create and amplify culturally sensitive educational and outreach strategies delivered through trusted messengers.
  • Advise local and statewide elected officials and government on equitable policies for testing, tracing, treatment, and outreach and education in Southeastern San Diego and other impacted communities.
  • Improve the accuracy and collection of demographic data for racial and ethnic populations, including disaggregated data for the various Asian, Filipino, Pacific Islander, and Middle Eastern populations, with emphasis on distribution and access to testing, tracing, treatment, and resources.
  • Ensure that the testing, tracing, and treatment workforce is diverse and reflective of the population.