“How do we create systematic change?”

PROBLEM:

How do we reach organizations beyond healthcare to distribute pandemic funding to create programs that enable systematic change? The COVID-19 pandemic has brought change and opportunity to all of us worldwide. As we look at the global impact and begin to funnel it down to specific populations, communities, and individuals, we find humanity. In New Mexico, we have diverse cultural, economic, and social populations. Each of these diversities brings opportunity for creative thinking and the development of innovative approaches to reach the core of each population, each human in our state.

SOLUTION:

In unprecedented times, we must call on every resident to do their part by activating the largest and the smallest organizations to have an impact in their circle of influence. No group is too small. We must engage our community to realize our full potential! Allow for creativity, innovation, and flexibility to achieve vaccine equity.

METHOD:

Create a grant program to distribute funds to state non-profit organizations with an emphasis on creativity, innovation, and execution plans and goals for initiatives that advance health equity goals for diverse cultural, economic, and social populations through improved access to COVID-19 vaccination and information. Emphasis is placed on reaching defined demographics with low vaccination rates to provide a long-lasting, sustainable impact

OUTCOME:

• Built a coalition of eight community-based organizations

• $3.5 million in grant funding has been awarded to twelve community-led organizations through the Better Together Grant Program

• Award amounts support the longevity of the project, having a positive systemic long-term impact on the community. Award recipients, their respective amounts awarded and a summary of their efforts include:

  • Chainbreaker Collective: $200,000, focused on the essential worker and immigrant population in Santa Fe County.

  • Comadre a Comadre, a Program of the University of New Mexico: $199,999, a trusted resource in the Spanish speaking community, ensuring their community gets vaccinated and stays up to date.

  • Empowerment Congress, a program of the Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico: $200,000, focused on the Colonias in Southern New Mexico.

  • New Mexico Community Health Worker Association: $200,000, focused on business owners in Southeast New Mexico, to educate employees about vaccination (specifically dairies and other agricultural businesses).

  • Partnership for Community Action: $57,240, partnering with the Mexican Consulate on three vaccine clinics per year with their established clientele.

  • Presbyterian Healthcare Services / Community Health: $200,000, creating a program that educates personal service providers (hairdressers, barbers, nail salons, tattoo artists) as educated ambassadors and encourages them to speak with their clients while rendering services.

  • Somos Unidos Foundation: $75,000 vaccination campaign with the NM United soccer team.

  • Quay County Health Council: $85,000, focused on engaging high school youth and young families in discerning misinformation and disinformation through social media.

  • South Valley MainStreet: $100,000, focused on partnerships with small businesses to educate them about vaccinations and how their workforce is impacted by an outbreak.

  • Black Leadership Council: $825,000, a statewide focus on the black population throughout New Mexico, offering technical support for established programs.

  • Boys and Girls Club Alliance: $700,000, focused on engaging youth and families at 29 established Clubs statewide.

  • Generation Justice: $650,000, working with youth to teach them how to navigate misinformation and disinformation around the topic of the pandemic.