Lessons from Two Latino Communities Working with Academic Partners to Increase Access to COVID-19 Testing

Lessons from Two Latino Communities Working with Academic Partners to Increase Access to COVID-19 Testing Kesia K. Garibay, MSPH, Arturo Durazo, PhD, Tatiana Vizcaíno, MA, Yolanda Oviedo, Kara Marson, Carina Arechiga, BA, Patric Prado, MPH, Omar Carrera, Manuel J. Alvarado, BA, Diane V. Havlir, MD, Susana Rojas, Gabriel Chamie, MD, MPH, Carina Marquez, MD, MPH, John Sauceda, PhD, MS, Irene H. Yen, PhD, MPH, and Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young, PhD, MPH What Is the Purpose of this Study? • To understand community partners' experiences and process of engagement in a community–academic partnership that implemented COVID-19 testing and access in two majority Latino communities. What Is the Problem? • There has been limited examination of the voices of community partners in a community–academic partnership responding to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among marginalized, under-resourced communities. What Are the Findings? • Participants shared that having community partners from another site provided an essential source of support as they developed plans for their COVID-19 testing events. • Latino COVID-19 Collaborative strategies tapped into leadership and activities that were present in the sites prior to COVID-19. • Participants felt that holding study activities in Spanish contributed to the relationships and capacity building of Latino COVID-19 Collaborative partners. Who Should Care Most? • Researchers interested in community–academic partnerships. • Community-based organizations. • Providers. • State and local policymakers. Recommendations for Action • Relationships among community partners can lead to unique and important insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by residents in accessing COVID-19 testing. [End Page e1] • Community-academic partnerships should uplift existing community capacity, ongoing leadership development is critical, particularly in geographically based interventions. • Future development and implementation of testing, vaccine, and outpatient treatment strategies should consider moving beyond traditional approaches to engage community partners. [End Page e2] Kesia K. Garibay, MSPH University of California, Merced Arturo Durazo, PhD University of California, Merced Tatiana Vizcaíno, MA United Way of Merced County Yolanda Oviedo Canal Alliance Kara Marson University of California, San Francisco Carina Arechiga, BA University of California, San Francisco Patric Prado, MPH University of California, San Francisco Omar Carrera Canal Alliance Manuel J. Alvarado, BA United Way of Merced County Diane V. Havlir, MD University of California, San Francisco Susana Rojas Latino Task Force for COVID-19 Gabriel Chamie, MD, MPH University of California, San Francisco Carina Marquez, MD, MPH University of California, San Francisco John Sauceda, PhD, MS University of California, San Francisco Irene H. Yen, PhD, MPH University of California, Merced Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young, PhD, MPH University of California, Merced Copyright © 2024 Johns Hopkins University Press