Links to Information on COVID-19 & Vulnerable Populations

In place of our monthly newsletter, we would like to provide you and your organizations with a list of resources to help you find answers to questions concerning COVID-19 and vulnerable populations. We will continue to update this list on our website and include timely and emerging resources.

Also of Interest: Links to Frequently Updated COVID-19 Information

How is COVID-19 impacting vulnerable populations and communities?

In response to the devastating impact COVID-19 is having on Native American communities, the Center for American Indian Health at John Hopkins is working to provide supplies and public health expertise and circulate health communications materials for tribal use.

• NPR | CNN | STAT

While urban areas in the United States were initially the hardest hit and had the earliest reports of COVID-19, there is an increasing concern about the impact of the pandemic in rural communities.

• Washington Post | KFF

The Marshall Project is collecting data on COVID-19 infections in state and federal prisons. See how the virus has affected correctional facilities where you live.

The Urban Institute offers insights and evidence-based solutions to help vulnerable families and communities, including the home insecure, homeless and incarcerated.

The National Health Care for the Homeless Council provides resources for homeless service providers.

Preliminary state-level data indicates that Black and Latino Americans are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 with higher infection and death rates.

• The New York Times | The Hill

The weekly Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index provides data on the impact of COVID-19 on communities in the U.S.

ESRI is using GIS to map the impact of COVID-19 and better understand at-risk populations geographically.

To help organizations address COVID progression and post surge recovery, PwC has developed a methodology on predictive modeling at the zip code level, integrating transmission models and a national proprietary synthetic population with data curated for 1600+ variables for every individual.

What actions are organizations taking to mitigate the impacts on vulnerable populations?

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute has developed a free, on-line resource in English and Spanish aimed at providing information, news and support for Hispanic/Latino families living with diabetes.

The American Association on Health and Disability developed a list of resources for people with disabilities on COVID-19.

The Nursing Home Abuse Center has created a resource for COVID-19 FAQs and eldercare.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is providing $50 million in emergency support to groups that offer food, housing, and income assistance to families and communities in need.

Independence Blue Cross joined a new funding initiative for Pennsylvania nonprofits to help vulnerable populations affected by COVID-19.

Florida Blue is making an initial investment of $2 million that will address food insecurity and other crisis priorities in local communities. The health plan has also partnered to offer a free, bilingual support hotline to all Floridians.

Anthem announced new resources and initiatives developed in partnership with leading community and health partners to provide support for the health needs of individuals, families and communities.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina has partnered with Senior Resources to provide free meals to senior citizens in 16 counties throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan launched at-home substance abuse treatment

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation created a $750,000 response fund focused on childcare for priority populations, food access, economic support, housing security and anti-xenophobia efforts.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts is providing one-year grants of up to $25,000 to organizations working to expand access to health care for low-income and vulnerable people.

How are organizations helping communities address food insecurity?

The USDA is working across all 15 of their nutrition programs to better serve their participants during COVID-19, including their child nutrition programs, WIC and SNAP.

Feeding America can help you find your local food bank. They have multiple efforts to address food insecurity, including a $2.65 million fund for food banks and working with schools and governments to ensure children have access to meals.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan committed $500,000 to provide meals to vulnerable children statewide through partnerships with local organizations.

The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation donated $3.25 million to multiple food banks across the state.

The Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas is donating $500,000 to stem food insecurity in the state and opening the “Rapid-Response COVID Relief” grant process to award up to $1.7 million to nonprofits negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

What impact does loneliness and social isolation have on health and what are strategies to increase happiness and well-being during this time?

Yale’s popular Science of Well-being course is available for free on Coursera and will enable participants to increase their own happiness and productivity during COVID-19.

NIHCM produced infographics on managing loneliness and on the science of happiness and well-being, including strategies to support people in isolation during COVID-19.

A new Tradeoffs podcast episode details the impact of COVID-19 on isolation and loneliness among older adults and how some providers and policymakers are responding.

What resources are available to address the impact COVID-19 has on mental health, suicide and addiction treatment?

The Association for Addiction Professionals and the APA have created resource lists to help addiction and mental health professionals better serve their clients during the pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has information and resources for individuals, communities and health care providers about stress, coping and stigma during COVID-19.

Mental Health America compiled a list of resources to aid individuals and communities during this time.

McKinsey & Company published a report on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and substance use.

The National Academy of Medicine created a list of resources to support the health and well-being of clinicians during COVID-19.

The American Medical Association has resources for health care leadership and health care workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has a variety of tools to spread positive messages of hope, compassion, mental health care and suicide prevention during the outbreak.

The Addiction Policy Forum is providing information for people in recovery and with active substance abuse disorders.

The National Eating Disorders Association has a list of resources to connect people to recovery pathways with virtual support.

Shatterproof is providing information on how to find virtual recovery meetings and how to stay connected to the recovery community.

The Indian Health Service developed a resource to support elder mental health during COVID-19.

If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

What safety plans are available for survivors of domestic violence sheltering with an abuser?

SAMHSA has developed a guide on information and resources for intimate partner violence and child abuse considerations during COVID-19.

The USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism hosted a webinar on responding to domestic violence during COVID-19 with support from NIHCM Foundation and Commonwealth Fund.

Futures Without Violence compiled a resource list for survivors who may be experiencing increased isolation and danger due to social distancing measures.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence: Call 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 for TTY, or if you’re unable to speak safely, you can log onto thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522.

How has COVID-19 impacted maternity care and where can I find information for health care practitioners, expecting mothers and new parents?

The CDC provides the most up-to-date information on coronavirus-related considerations for pregnant women, pregnancy, delivery, infants and breastfeeding.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has assembled resources for obstetrician-gynecologists and other health care practitioners.

Every Mother Counts curated a list of resources for new moms, mothers-to-be, physicians, midwives and doulas.

This Harvard Health Blog post, written by an OBGYN and an infectious disease specialist and internist, answers the often-asked questions about COVID-19 and pregnancy.