The Importance of Community-Based and Community-Partnered COVID-19 Testing for Reducing Disparities Among African American Populations.
Chavon Hamilton-BurgessJannette Berkley-PattonJenifer AllsworthCarole Bowe ThompsonFrank E ThompsonTacia BurginEric D WilliamsKathryn Pitkin DerosePublished in: Health equity (2024)
Several key aspects of the COVID-19 testing models included the following: (1) close proximity of the testing site to affected communities and availability of walk-up and drive-through testing options; (2) partnerships between safety-net providers and broad community networks, which facilitated outreach and trust; (3) increased resources for safety-net providers; and (4) the use of data to identify areas of need and track impact. The merging of resources and relationships among well-equipped, safety-net providers and other health care institutions and culture-rich, community-centered organizations, to jointly address structural and systemic inequities, is key to cultivating health equity in the distribution of COVID-19 testing and other essential public health services.