COVID-19 Resources

Last Updated: 1/8/2021

AAPCHO is continuously monitoring novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) alerts and information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and other health agencies across the United States and its territories.

This page will be updated frequently with tailored resources for community health centers, multilingual and culturally appropriate materials for Asian American (AA), Native Hawaiian (NH), and Pacific Islander (PI) communities, resources to address stigma related to COVID-19, public health considerations, webinar opportunities, and policy updates. This page covers the following areas: 

• Resources for Health Centers
• Resources for the COVID-19 Vaccine
• Multilingual and Culturally Appropriate Materials
• Resources to Address Stigma Related to COVID-19
• Cultural Humility Resources
• Public Health Considerations
• Webinars
• Policy Updates
• What’s in the News

If you have questions, would you like to contribute resources to this page, and/or require technical assistance, please email preparedness@aapcho.org.

AAPCHO is working to get personal protective equipment (PPE) to our member health centers providing care to some of the most vulnerable populations disproportionately at risk. Items like gowns, gloves and masks are essential in treating COVID-19. Our team is coordinating with AAPCHO member health centers who need supplies, and with equipment donors who can help meet this need. Fill out the form today!

AAPCHO encourages all health centers to visit the Health Center Resource Clearinghouse to access compiled resources on COVID-19 from 20 NationalCooperative Agreement organizations and partners. 

Highlighted Resources for Health Centers

• NEW! Koviki Talk Podcast – Join the Pacific Islander Center of Primary Care Excellence with partners for the Koviki Talk, a limited podcast series on all things Pacific Islanders, COVID-19 and seeking wisdom to learn more about how the Pacific Islander community is responding. Tune in on Mondays at 5 pm PT on Facebook: @PI-CoPCE @Pacific Islander COVID-19 Response @Empowering Pacific Islander Communities @PolyByDesign
• The Impact of COVID-19 on PRAPARE Social Determinants of Health Domains – The Protocol for Responding to and Assessing Patient Assets, Risk, and Experiences (PRAPARE) developed a fact sheet to support addressing social determinants of health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 59 Mental Health Resource for Health Care Providers – Nursing License Map curated mental health resource for health care professionals and students.
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• Telehealth resources – AAPCHO developed a telehealth resource page to provide tailored resources for community health centers.
• Administrative Considerations for FQHCs during COVID-19 – Malama I Ke Ola shared their experiences and changes to administrative staff responsibilities during the “Diabetes Management Preparedness During COVID-19 for Pacific Islander Populations” Learning Collaborative

Federal Resources for Health Centers

• Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Resources for Health Centers – The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is working to keep health centers and Health Center Program partners updated on the latest information regarding COVID-19. All COVID-19 information for health centers will appear on this page and resources will be updated as they become available.
  • Health Center Program COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  • Health Center Survey Data for COVID-19:  Each health center will receive an electronic, easy-to-use survey twice a week via email, on Monday and Thursday afternoons. HRSA will use the information collected to assess health centers’ needs throughout the COVID-19 response.
  • COVID-19: Health Center Survey Tool Questions
  • Health Center Program Look-Alike Survey Data for COVID-19

• HRSA’s Health Center COVID-19 Information Collection: Each health center will receive an electronic, easy-to-use survey twice a week via email,on Monday and Thursday afternoons. HRSA will use the information collected to assess health centers’ needs throughout the COVID-19 response.
• Novel Coronavirus Situation Summary – The CDC’s primary coronavirus website: coronavirus.gov.
• Novel Coronavirus Information for Healthcare Professionals
• CMS Current Emergencies Page – Resources include waiver and flexibility information, and guidance on the following topic areas: clinical and technical, billing and coding, coverage, provider enrollment, Medicaid and CHIP, and more.

Financial Support

• CARES Act Provider Relief Fund – The Provider Relief Funds supports American families, workers, and the heroic healthcare providers in the battle against the COVID-19 outbreak. HHS is distributing $100 billion to hospitals and healthcare providers on the front lines of the coronavirus response.
• Cash Flow and Payroll Options for Health Centers – NACHC prepared information on concerns around cash flow and pay roll for health centers with less than 500 employees and those with more than 500 employees.
• Health Centers’ Experiences with Payroll Protection Loans During COVID-19 – NACHC and Capital Link released findings from a national assessment on experiences applying for and receiving the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans as an infographic.
• Financial Impact Fact Sheet for Health Centers – NACHC developed a fact sheet to outline the negative impact COVID-19 has on employment, revenue, and health center visits. Capital Link has also developed employment and revenue loss analysis here.
• Cash Relief Resource Database Available for Nonprofits – This searchable website from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business supports nonprofits and for-profits to locate cash relief resources in their community. 
• COVID-19 Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce issues this guide to support small businesses and self-employed individuals check their eligibility and prepare to file for a loan.

Workforce Support

• FREE training available! COVID-19 Contact Tracing – John Hopkins University partnered with Coursera to provide training and insight on skills needed for contact tracing.
• Recommendations & Resources for Your Health Center Dental Department by National Network for Oral Health Access
• COVID-19 for the Health Center Workforce – The Weitzman Institute and Association of Clinicians for the Underserved has curated a list of resources for health center staff, including those on crisis counseling and self-care, managing workflows, clinician burnout, and more.
• Wellbeing for Refugee Service Providers during COVID-19: Am I Ok?

Sample Protocols for Health Centers

• Sample Patient Under Investigation (PUI) Incident Protocol for COVID-19 – provided by AAPCHO Member, Asian Health Services
• Sample Organizational Planning Checklist for COVID-19
• Sample Provider Protocol for COVID-19 – provided by AAPCHO Member, Asian Health Services
• NACHC COVID-19: Sample Drive Thru Procedures NACHC Resource Packet

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidance for Health Centers

• Healthcare Supply of Personal Protective Equipment
• CDC Updated Guidelines on the Use of Facemasks and Respirators – CDC provided guidance on the use of facemasks by health care workers in situations involving COVID-19. 

Additional Resources

• Immigrant-Serving Organizations’ Perspectives on the COVID-19 Crisis – The Urban Institute and Protecting Immigrant Families, Advancing Our Future campaign created a brief to share the perspectives of immigrant-serving organizations on the effects on immigrant communities while providing recommendations for federal, state, and local responses.
• COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal (launched April 27, 2020) – As part of the FFCRA and CARES Act, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will provide claims reimbursement to health care providers generally at Medicare rates for testing uninsured individuals for COVID-19 and treating uninsured individuals with a COVID-19 diagnosis.
• Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) – CDC’s COCA prepares clinicians to respond to emerging health threats and public health emergencies by communicating relevant, timely information related to disease outbreaks, disasters, terrorism events, and other health alerts.
• FAQs for Health Care Providers for Medicare Payment – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released FAQs on Medicare payment for laboratory tests and other services related to COVID-19.

AAPCHO recognizes that navigating information on the COVID-19 Vaccine is essential for Community Health Centers. The role of Community Health Centers in the deployment of vaccines is essential at numerous levels.

From the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• 10 Things Healthcare Workers Should Know about the COVID-19 Vaccine – The CDC compiled key vaccine information specifically relevant to Healthcare Workers.
• COVID-19 Vaccination Communication Toolkit For Medical Centers, Clinics, and Clinicians to educate healthcare teams and other staff.
• Training: The CDC has created a training module, COVID-19 Vaccine Training: General Overview of Immunization Best Practices for Healthcare Providers, with information about COVID-19 vaccine Emergency Use Authorization and safety, as well as general information about vaccine storage, handling, administration, and reporting
• Have questions about handling vaccine supplies and questions about the Cool Chain? Read the CDC’s recommendations on Vaccine Handling and Storage 
• Combat COVID-19 HHS Clinical Trial Homepage Are you receiving questions about clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccines? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services explains the role of clinical trials and if and how patients can participate.
• Report: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Interim Recommendation for Allocating Initial Supplies of COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, 2020 The CDC announced their recommendation of the top two priority populations to first receive the COVID-19 vaccine, 1) health care personnel and 2) residents of long-term care facilities. This report explains the recommendation.

Knowledge and Data to Prepare for the Vaccine:

• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) have created toolkits to help providers prepare for being an immunization site and understanding Medicaid coverage for the COVID-19 Vaccine.
• States Are Getting Ready to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines. What Do Their Plans Tell Us So Far? – Kaiser Family Foundation gathers and provides analysis of the existing state executive plans for the COVID-19 vaccine including how states are determining priority populations, communications, and providers.
• Issue Brief: Vaccine Coverage, Pricing, and Reimbursement in the U.S. – Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) provides an overview on how vaccines, in general, are paid for by government programs and covered by insurance including public options.
• Fact Sheet: Explaining Operation Warp Speed – Learn more about the Operation Warp Speed’s timeline and key updates on the development of vaccines for COVID-19.
• Data Note: “Analysis by researchers from the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative estimates that nearly half of all patients served by community health centers qualify for phase one COVID-19 immunizations, following health care workers, residents of long-term care facilities and other essential workers, under priority guidelines established by the CDC.”

Perspectives to Consider

• Health Centers and the COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy – The National Association of Community Health Center’s (NACHC) Chief Medical Officer, Ron Yee, discusses key considerations for Community Health Centers in the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Missing From State Plans to Distribute the Coronavirus Vaccine: Money to Do It – The NY Times covers the the budget discussions between state health officials and the federal government to provide funding needed to deploy the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Vaccine Cold Chain Q&A – PATH provides an overview of the temperature sensitivity of the upcoming COVID-19 vaccines and discusses the challenges associated with protecting the “cold chain.”

AAPCHO is proud to partner and is part of the Pacific Islander COVID-19 Response Team and the Asian American Pacific Islander Emergency Response Network to provide culturally competent and in-language resources and materials for those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

The Pacific Islander COVID-19 Response Team is a national group of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) researchers, health experts, community leaders and advocates who have come together to inform and support families and communities about COVID-19. Resources available here »

• NHPI COVID-19 Toolkit – In partnership with the Southern California Pacific Islander COVID-19 Response Team, the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office has released the Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander COVID-19 Community Toolkit, a rich resource that includes infographics and public service announcements (PSAs) in Chamorro, Hawaiian, Marshallese, Samoan, and Tongan languages.

The Asian American and Pacific Islander Emergency Response Network (ERN) is a collaboration among the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans and other non-profit groups with the goal of laying the foundation for a more unified AA and NHPI movement. Find more information » 

• The CDC has collected COVID-19 educational resources for communication with migrants, refugees, and other Limited-English Proficient populations including print resources and webpages in numerous AA & NHPI languages.
• COVID-19 Fact Check – UCSF School of Medicine developed a list of facts and myths that are currently available in English and Vietnamese. Additional languages, including Chinese Korean, and Punjabi, will be available soon. 
• COVID-19 Community Guides – Equity Labs developed COVID-19 community guides, which are available in English and South Asian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi, Urdu, Nepali, Burmese, Bengali, and Marathi.
• AA and NHPI In-Language Materials Project – The Asian & Pacific Islander Health Forum crowd-sourced a list of in-language materials related to COVID-19.
• TranslateCovid.org, initiated by UCLA’s Institute of American Cultures, Asian American Studies Center, and Fielding School of Public Health, includes multiple resources translated to various AA & NHPI languages.
• Various In-Language Materials List – Another crowd-sourced list of in-language educational materials on COVID-19 in various languages.
• In-language Media Materials and Resources – The County of Los Angeles Public Health’s resource hub for toolkits, infographics, and additional information on Coronavirus. Resources are available in Chinese (traditional and simplified), Korean, Tagalog, Cambodian, Japanese, Vietnamese, and more.
• Toolkit of Coronavirus Resources – The Government of the District of Columbia developed Stop the Spread of Germs flyers (available in English and multiple languages) and Stop Stigma posters (available in English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese).
• A Round-Up of Multilingual Resources on COVID-19 – Switchboard‘s blog post contains fact sheets, posters, multimedia resources, and links to live updates in multiple languages that can be shared with clients and the general public about COVID-19, its symptoms, and how to prevent it. It also includes multilingual resources about handwashing.
• Preventing the Spread of Germs in NHPI Languages – Multnomah County developed this webpage to offer in-language NHPI translations for Palauan, Pohnpeian, Chuukese, Tongan, and Kosraean. Check out their video library of more than 30 translated messages on how to stop the spread of COVID-19.
• Marshallese COVID-19 Task Force – Dr. Sheldon Riklon and the Marshallese COVID-19 Task Force curated in-language Marshallese resources.

• Southeast Asian Resource Action Center (SEARAC) – COVID-19 Rapid Response Resources – SEARAC curated resources available in Cambodian/Khmer, Hmong, Laotian, and Vietnamese.
• Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy & Leadership (APPEAL)‘s COVID-19 and Tobacco Use fact sheet – The fact sheet is available in Chinese, Korean, and Tagalog.

AAPCHO acknowledges the increasing levels of stigma, racism, and xenophobia toward AA and NHPI communities as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. We encourage community health center providers, community-based organizations, educators, and the general public to combat this stigma by addressing misinformation and practicing cultural humility.

• CDC’s Message on Stigma Related to COVID-19– The CDC states that diseases can make anyone sick regardless of their race or ethnicity. People of Asian descent, including Chinese Americans, are not more likely to get COVID-19 than any other American. Help stop fear by letting people know that being of Asian descent does not increase the chance of getting or spreading COVID-19. Share these facts.
• Asian American and Pacific Islander Civil Rights Organizations on the Coronavirus: “Not a Green Light to Target Asian Americans and Asian immigrants with Racism and Hate” – National Council of Asian Pacific Americans’ (NCAPA) response to incidents of Anti-Asian racism due to the coronavirus and call to action on removing misinformation.
• Blame and Discrimination Attached to 2019-nCoV – John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for Health Security released an FAQ for U.S. Elected Leaders and Health Officials on social stigma attached to Coronavirus.
• Bystander Intervention – The American Friends Service Committee provides do’s and don’ts when one witnesses public instances of racist or oppressive interpersonal violence and harassment.
• Speaking Up Against Racism Around the New Coronavirus – Teaching Tolerance provides historical context on why AA and NHPI communities are targeted, resources on responding to hate and bias in educational settings, and more.
• Guidance for Adults: How to Talk to Asian American Youth About Racism – Apex for Youth developed a guide on navigating conversations around racism with young people.
• King County provides anti-stigma resources, including two posters: “Viruses Don’t Discriminate and Neither Should We” and “Coronavirus and Stigma“

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reporting Incidents of Hate

• Stand Against Hatred – Asian Americans Advancing Justice is documenting hate incidents from across the United States to better educate the public and to empower and advocate for those affected by hate crimes.
• AAPI Hate Crimes – OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates is documenting any hate incidents motivated by bias against race or ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexuality, or disability.
• Stop AAPI Hate Incident Report Forms – In-language incident report forms in English, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Korean, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, Khmer, Punjabi, Tagalog, and Hmong from Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council.
• Report Instances of Hate-Related Incidents – The Center of Public Integrity is investigating COVID-19-related hate incidents. Like the other reporting sites, information will not be published without your consent.
• #WashTheHate Campaign – Join the social media campaign, created by Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council and OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates, to raise awareness of discrimination and violence against the Asian Pacific American community.

Toolkits

• COVID-19 Toolkit on Response to Racism and Xenophobia – The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), in collaboration with AAPCHO, developed a toolkit on responding to racism and xenophobia related to COVID-19.

Cultural humility is a respectful approach toward individuals of other cultures that continuously pushes one to challenge cultural biases (CHCS, 2017).

• National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards – The Office of Minority Health’s Think Cultural Health website features information, continuing education opportunities, resources, and more for health and health care professionals to learn about culturally and linguistically appropriate services, or CLAS.
• Cultural Humility is Critical to Health Equity – The American Academy of Family Physician states why it’s important for family physicians to practice cultural humility in patient-centered care.

• Addressing Health Inequities in the Era of COVID-19 – Families USA created an infographic to outline the health outcomes and inequities rooted in systemic and unjust social and economic policies.
• The COVID Racial Data Tracker –  The COVID Tracking Project and the Antiracist Research & Policy Center developed a racial data tracker to document the varying disparity of COVID across communities by collecting, publishing, and analyzing racial data on the pandemic from across the United States.
• Hepatitis B and COVID-19 Updates – The Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF) developed a resource hub for managing hepatitis B infection amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 
  • Great Read! Hep B and COVID-19: Resources for Individuals and Healthcare Workers – Check out HBF’s blog for information tailored for individuals and healthcare workers.
• COVID-19 Community Resources by State – Healthify curated a list of state resources related to COVID-19.
• The Impact of COVID-19 on social determinants of health – Healthify‘s blog outlines how SDoHS have been impacted.
• Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health -Check out SAMHSA’s fact sheet on “Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During An Infectious Disease Outbreak” 
• List of Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a list of disinfectants fo use against SAR-CoV-2, a coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
• Coping with Stress during the 2019-nCoV Outbreak – The World Health Organization’s advice to cope with the stress associated with Coronavirus. Advice is also available to help children cope with stress.
• Handwashing Resources – Handwashing is the most effective and recommended strategy to prevent Coronavirus spread. Check out CDC’s training and education materials on handwashing.
• Handbook of COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment – The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University of Medicine developed a handbook on best practices for preventing and treating COVID-19. It is available in English and Chinese.

• Upcoming Webinars and Resources – The Health Center Resource Clearinghouse developed this page with COVID-19 webinar opportunities and resources tailored for health centers.

 

• COVID-19 Vaccine Webinar for Community Based Organizations – The CDC Foundation provided vaccine information, local challenges, and distribution plans.
• Providing Safe Care to COVID-19 Patients in Various Settings – This recorded webinar and Q&A session by the American Hospital Association Center for Health Innovation, through CDC’s Project Firstline, provides current insight on safe care practices for healthcare workers including outpatient centers (November 20, 2020).
• Conversations on COVID-19: Impacts on Communities of Color – The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine shared conversations with experts to discuss the latest in information and research on health equity.
• COVID-19 Info Session – This recorded webinar from NYU Langone Health and Center for the Study of Asian American Health features Eda Chao, MD, Assistant Chief of Pediatrics of Charles B. Wang Community Health Center. Dr. Chao provided a COVID-19 information session in Mandarin. Slides are also available in Chinese and English (April 24, 2020).
• 19 Ways to Survive the Pandemic – The American Dental Association highlights what you can do during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also be sure to check out other COVID-19 digital events and trainings from them (March 26, 2020).
• The Impact of COVID-19 on the LGBTQ+ Community – Check out the free and on-demand webinar from the National Coalition for LGBT Health (March 26, 2020).
• Prepare Not Panic: COVID-19 Update and the Health Center Response – The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) hosted this webinar in collaboration with the CDC Coronavirus Response Task Force. The recording and slides are now available (March 6, 2020). See also Asian Health Service’s feature. 
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness and Response for Primary Care Providers – The National Nurse-led Care Consortium and CDC’s recorded webinar to inform primary care associations, community health centers, and other outpatient settings providers on the latest information on Coronavirus (February 20, 2020).

•  Community health centers have to get creative to care for children during the pandemic’s school closures, features Family Health Center of Worcester (December 4, 2020)

Find previous updates here.