“The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities is partnering with five North Carolina community-based organizations to help address the disparate impact COVID-19 is having on the state’s Hispanic/LatinX communities.

COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting historically marginalized populations – particularly Hispanic/LatinX communities, which represent 10 percent of North Carolina’s population but over 46 percent of the laboratory-confirmed cases of the disease (as of July 2, 2020).

Many people in Hispanic/LatinX communities provide essential services and work in industries North Carolina relies upon, such as construction, childcare, and food processing. Often, this work is in environments where social distancing can be challenging, health insurance is not provided, and social isolation could create a significant financial burden. These are all factors that may be contributing to the high rate of COVID-19 among Hispanic/LatinX communities.

North Carolina is committed to working with people and organizations on the ground who know their communities best, who have been providing services to North Carolina’s Latinx/Hispanic populations – some having engaged with Spanish-speaking families for over 25 years to the newest with over 4 years. Contracts of $100,000 were awarded to the Association of Mexicans in North Carolina Inc. (AMEXCAN), El Centro Hispano, Latin American Coalition, Qué Pasa Media Network and True Ridge.

The organizations will support the Department’s COVID-19 response, including; promoting prevention measures such as wearing face coverings, social distancing and frequent handwashing, creating trust and access to testing, supporting engagement with contact tracers, helping people stay home when ill, and coordinating with NCDHHS on public outreach messages that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for our
Hispanic/LatinX population.

The contracts are funded through the end of 2020 by the NC General Assembly’s Department of the Treasury. The organizations were selected based on geographic reach, established relationships within the Hispanic/LatinX communities, and recognized COVID-19 relief work for Hispanic/LatinX populations. They represent the eastern, central, western, and major metropolitan areas of North Carolina.”

Republished from NC DHHS press release