Community Health Program Expands In NC, Aims To Target More Latinos

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced it will be expanding its community health program created to provide local communities with the necessary tools to fight COVID-19. 

The program, which originally partnered up with six vendors, will now expand statewide. Two of the new vendors joining are El Centro Latino and UNETE, nonprofit organizations created to provide support and build bridges for the Latino community. 

The goal is to provide assistance to those trying to get the vaccine and connect with people who have been affected by COVID-19.  

The program is tailored to ensure people who are uninsured and vulnerable have access to appropriate quality healthcare. Community Health Workers provide assistance with processes like scheduling appointments, finding transportation to get to vaccination sites, and medical and social support. 

COVID-19 cases have been on a steady increase since June. According to the Pew Research Center, Latinos currently make up 9% of the overall North Carolina population. NCDHHS reports that Hispanics make up 19% of COVID-19 cases. 

Southeastern Health Care NC is the established group doing much of this community health work locally and serves a large swath of the Triad, including Guilford and Forsyth counties, but also extends into the High Country in places like Watauga County.

The program will run until the end of June 2022 with the possibility of renewal for two more years.

This story was produced by a partnership between WFDD and La Noticia.

Eileen Rodriguez is a reporter for both WFDD and La Noticia through Report for America, where she covers COVID-19's impact in the Latino Communities.

Periodista de La Noticia y 88.5 WFDD, Eileen Rodríguez reporta el impacto de COVID-19 en la comunidad Latina en Carolina del Norte. Rodríguez es miembro del cuerpo de periodistas de Report for America 2021-2022