Keeping the FAITH!: Psychosocial Factors and Healthy Lifestyle Among African-Americans During the COVID-19 Pandemic
During the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, FAITH!—a community-academic partnership with African American churches—surveyed 169 African American adults in Minnesota to understand how pandemic-related stressors affected their ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Over half of respondents reported difficulty staying healthy, which was strongly linked to mental health challenges like stress, depression, anxiety, and anger.
Addressing COVID-19 Inequities Using Bidirectional Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication and Vaccine Clinic Interventions: A Descriptive Study
To address COVID-19 disparities among immigrant and refugee communities in Southeast Minnesota, RHCP developed a two-part intervention: a bidirectional communication strategy and community-based vaccine clinics. Trusted community members, called Communication Leaders, shared culturally adapted health messages through social media and gathered feedback from their networks.
Adaptation of a Bidirectional Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication Framework by Community-Engaged Research Partnerships in Rural Mississippi During the COVID-19 Pandemic
A community-academic partnership adapted a successful COVID-19 communication model originally developed by RHCP in Minnesota to support rural African American communities in Mississippi. The intervention focused on building trust and delivering culturally relevant health messages through local Communication Leaders—trusted individuals with strong social ties.
Experiences of Hispanic Safety Net Clinic Patients With Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes faced major challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including financial strain, reduced access to medical care, and increased stress. Many participants lost jobs or insurance, struggled to afford food and medications, and experienced anxiety about attending clinic visits.
Pilot Social Network Weight Loss Intervention With Two Immigrant Populations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, RHCP piloted a weight loss program for Somali and Hispanic immigrant communities in southeastern Minnesota. Lay health promoters from each community led small social network groups through a 12-week intervention focused on improving diet, physical activity, and overall health.
Community-Engaged Bidirectional Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication With Immigrant and Refugee Populations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, RHCP adapted a crisis and emergency risk communication (CERC) framework to support immigrant and refugee communities in southeast Minnesota. Communication leaders from six ethnic groups delivered messages in seven languages using platforms like social media, phone calls, and texts.
The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the United States.
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on racial and ethnic minority communities in the U.S., including African American, LatinX, and Native American populations. These groups have experienced significantly higher rates of infection, hospitalization, and death compared to white populations. The disparities stem from a combination of biomedical factors—such as higher rates of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension—and social determinants of health, including poverty, limited access to healthcare, and unsafe working and living conditions.
Emergency Preparedness and Risk Communication Among African American Churches: Leveraging a Community-Based Participatory Research Partnership COVID-19 Initiative
To help African American communities during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FAITH! program partnered with 120 churches across Minnesota to share accurate health information and emergency resources. Using a framework from the CDC, they created a culturally tailored communication strategy that included daily Facebook posts and weekly emails.
Leveraging Community Engaged Research Partnerships for Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication to Vulnerable Populations in the COVID-19 Pandemic
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, RHCP launched a community-led communication effort to reach immigrant and refugee communities in Rochester, Minnesota. Recognizing that official health messages weren’t reaching people with limited English proficiency, RHCP worked with trusted community members—called Communication Leaders—to share accurate information in six languages.