Rural Health Education & Community COVID-19 Response

Mitigating the spread of COVID-19 through patient and public education initiatives across northern Wisconsin

Full Project Name:Rural Health Education & Community COVID-19 ResponsePrimary Community Organization:NorthLakes Community ClinicAward Amount:$108,628.00

Award Date

April2020

Project Duration:6 months

Project Description Narrative:

The COVID-19 pandemic is not confined to urban areas. Public education and awareness efforts in Wisconsin must also respond to the needs of residents within rural communities, including communities in northern Wisconsin. Through this award, residents of a nearly 20,000 square-mile region of northern Wisconsin will be provided with education, information, and outreach from a trusted, reputable source – NorthLakes Community Clinic – to support the health needs of residents and promote important guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in northern Wisconsin.

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:

Supported NorthLakes Community Clinic community health worker team in meeting with 601 individuals for one-on-one support that included information on prevention and testing for COVID-19, increased anxiety and stress, and connecting clients to services to meet their needs, including food access and insurance enrollment
Implemented public awareness and outreach campaigns, including a series of seven videos that received more than 15,000 impressions on average along with accompanying outreach via newspaper and radio
Developed website content to make COVID-19 information and resources accessible, including information on testing and a symptom tracker to help residents navigate the symptoms of COVID-19 compared to other circulating illnesses