Table 2. Summary of Potential Community-Based Strategies to Address Racial and Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes Among Children and Teens.
| Partnerships: public health and boards of education work together with cross-sector partnersa |
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| • Identify and engage community partners with interest in or established relations working with K-12 schools serving minority populations • Engage women’s, parents’, and adolescent and youth groups to ensure there is effective peer outreach • Leverage trusted community resources, influencers, and other community leaders (eg, faith-based organizations) and businesses (eg, Adopt a School Program) • Facilitate innovative partnerships to include auxiliary services (eg, Head Start programs, YMCA, YWCA, Boys and Girls Club of America, cooperative extension services) • Include other governmental (eg, local parks and recreations departments) and nongovernmental organizations (eg, Food Bank programs) • Develop partnerships with a priority based on equity and removing systemic barriers of students experiencing disadvantage • Incorporate community oversight of activities to ensure their voice is represented and to build trust in the community • Gather, share, and use data (race, ethnicity, language, location, social factors) to focus efforts |
| Initial collective work: partnerships collectively define the problem and create a shared vision to solve itb |
| • Plan community-based support for learning, families, and whole child development • Conduct rapid assessment of the digital literacy capacity for students and teachers • Conduct rapid assessment of barriers to virtual learning • Identify resources needed by students to receive optimal virtual learning • Conduct rapid assessment of barriers to safe (return to) in-person learning • Collaborate to identify and fill the gaps in mitigation efforts in schools • Support under-resourced schools in planning to mitigate exposure and transmission of COVID-19, as well as testing and contact tracing • Identify other health-related needs |
| Outcomes-based activities: partnership leads and/or facilitates activities with a focus on outcomesc |
| • Address barriers to optimal virtual learning (eg, limited access to technology and eLearning materials, experience, instructor issues) • Quantify tutoring and mentoring needs and invest in rapid, remote support (eg, local volunteers tutor remotely) • Address barriers to in-person learning (eg, implementation of mitigation strategies in K-12 schools, safe transportation) • Pilot test and evaluate mitigation strategies among K-12 schools that serve a high proportion of students from racial and ethnic minority populations or from families with low incomes or limited resources • Support the capacity to identify and respond to signs of stress, isolation, or poor mental health in students • Protect students from abuse/violence • Improve adolescents’ health literacy related to the COVID-19 pandemic and general health • Identify and facilitate afterschool and expanded learning opportunities |
| Communications: leverage existing and innovative approaches using focused messagesd |
| • Use existing digital platforms for small group or individual tele-tutoring (eg, 2 times per week) to strengthen learning, social engagement, and cultural affirmation • Schools identify and address inclusive delivery mechanisms for students with disabilities who are learning remotely • Develop and deliver accurate and culturally responsive information about COVID-19 and how students can protect themselves (eg, ensure language access, broad distribution through trusted sources, and relevance to students from racial or ethnic minorities) • Provide teleconsultations/telecounseling and educational sessions (webinars) to families about coping with stress and providing information on positive parenting • Provide resources and links to psychosocial and mental health support services (eg, community health centers and other health-related social needs) • Implement messages to increase awareness and resources for children and teens experiencing abuse/violence • Provide outreach activities and culturally tailored prevention messages/campaigns focused on COVID-19 • Provide outreach activities and culturally tailored prevention messages focused on preventing chronic diseases (eg, healthy eating, exercise) |