From Health Outreach Partners:
Essential Then, Essential Now: What the Pandemic has Taught Us About the Role of Outreach Workers
The role of outreach has changed dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. When services had to shift abruptly and health centers were forced to rethink the way they serve their community, they turned to outreach to ensure that their patients were still receiving necessary information and vital care in order to stay healthy. This focus and attention have created a renewed value for outreach services, which historically have lacked departmental stability, job security for staff, and overall health center investment.
Based on these lessons learned, Health Outreach Partners will explore how outreach has been essential for health centers during the pandemic, look to the future at how health centers can grow and reimagine the role of outreach workers, and emphasize self-care and resilience for their staff who have endured the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their community.
