Improving Community Access to Care Through Health Disparities Grant
December 11, 2024
In 2021, as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response, CDC distributed critical funding to state, territorial, and freely associated state health departments through the OT21-2103 COVID Health Disparities grant to promote health equity initiatives.
ASTHO, in partnership with the National Association of Community Health Workers and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, created state stories highlighting how some health departments have deployed this funding to advance health equity in their jurisdictions.
The following state stories demonstrate how Utah, Virginia, and Texas worked to strengthen public health initiatives in rural communities, empower community health workers, and build stronger bridges between communities and healthcare.
Community Health Workers Advance Sustainability and Practice Integration in Utah
Community health workers (CHWs) serve a vital role in bridging gaps in care for the communities that they serve. However, despite their critical work, CHWs remain a precarious workforce with limited recognition and resources. Some states, like Utah, are addressing this need through funding from CDC and other sources to support their CHW workforce. Learn how Utah has leveraged funding to promote sustainable CHW practice.
Virginia’s Rural Response and Relief Program
Healthcare is often difficult to access for rural communities due to a scarcity of providers in the area and other accessibility hurdles. The Virginia Department of Health has begun tackling the issue of rural access to care through CDC funding, creating a mini grant program dedicated to addressing the social determinants of health and boosting health equity in rural communities. Learn more about the program and what it’s done for rural Virginia in this report.
Rural Healthcare Initiatives in Texas
The Texas State Office of Rural Health collaborated with the Texas Department of State Health Services to spearhead a community paramedicine pilot program to address unique healthcare challenges faced by rural communities, such as improving access to care and addressing accessibility challenges for community members who face difficulties getting healthcare. Learn more about how Texas piloted this cutting-edge program in this report.
These products were supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, OT21-2103, National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Populations at High-Risk and Underserved, Including Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations and Rural Communities. Its contents are solely the responsibility of ASTHO and do not necessarily represent the official views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.