The California Family Resource Association (CFRA) has awarded applicants for mini-grants funded through the Sierra Health Foundation to conduct Vaccine Equity Campaign Outreach and Access (VEC).  The purpose of this funding is to conduct outreach and on-site vaccine clinics through Family Resource Centers (FRCs) to improve COVID-19 vaccination for underserved communities in California. The timeframe for the implementation of this grant is October 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022.

Sierra Health Foundation funds organizations to increase Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) access to appointments and vaccines, and provide transportation, interpreter services, childcare and other supports[1]. Awarded organizations will lead activities that help vulnerable communities get vaccinated against COVID-19. Grantees will use multiple outreach methods, such as the expertise of community organizers, community health workers and Promotoras, while linking families with clinicians who can administer the vaccines.

COVID-19 has both impacted and been impacted by the state’s economic, geographic, racial, and related inequities in California. According to the California’ COVID-19 website[2]:

• The COVID-19 death rate is 18% higher for African-American people and 15% higher for Latinx people than statewide2.
• The case rate for Pacific Islanders is 77% higher than statewide2.
• The case rate for communities with median income <$40K is 24% higher than statewide2.
• Latinx and African-American people have vaccination rates below their shares of the state population2.

CFRA is a statewide membership association of Family Resource Centers, networks, and individuals that serve children and families. CFRA members pay annual dues to receive CFRA support and resources. CFRA’s purpose is to advocate for and support the programs, policies, and resources that enable FRCs to better serve families and communities. CFRA accomplishes this by building the capacity of member organizations, convening partners for shared learning and planning, and supporting the development of networks and coalitions to achieve greater impact.

Since 2020, CFRA has administered $16 million in funding from the state Office of Child Abuse Prevention for community COVID-19 relief through FRCs. Through the FRC Relief Fund, FRCs throughout the state have reaffirmed their value as trusted providers and brokers of services, as they are place-based, welcoming, and reflective of the communities they serve. Because of their integral community connections, FRCs often are the starting point or only resource to parents for accessing services and public benefits. They are the friendly face and comfortable place that offers a way to access services for families who may otherwise be reluctant to approach public agencies and health providers. By design, FRCs are situated in almost all of California’s most underserved communities and connected to those most in need.

CFRA anticipates that providing outreach for COVID-19 vaccine access and on-site/pop-up vaccination clinics through FRCs will have multiple potential benefits to those who come in for vaccination and increase community trust of vaccines. Families who come to the FRC sites for vaccines can receive information about other services on site to access other supports including, but not limited to, mental health resources, public benefits, childcare, community leadership development, and other support.

[1] Sierra Health Foundation. (2022). COVID-19 response for our communities. The Center. COVID-19 Response for Our Communities – The Center at Sierra Health Foundation (shfcenter.org)

[2] California for All. (2022, March 21). Vaccination data. COVID19.CA.GOV. Vaccination data – Coronavirus COVID-19 Response (ca.gov)

VEC Grantees

CFRA is distributing $400,000 in mini-grants to FRCs for outreach and on-site or pop-up vaccine clinics for underserved communities. Maximum grant to be awarded is $20,000 per applicant.

Mini-grants will be awarded as follows:

outreach activities including: (see MOU for grantee deliverables)

• Group training or events: Includes digital and in person community gatherings, information sessions, and speaker events/panels.
• Door-to-door canvassing: Includes knocking on individual doors and leaving door hangers or materials at households.
• Phone banking: Includes calls to individual community members using standardized scripts.
• Text banking: Includes text messages to individual community members using standardized scripts. *Note: It DOES NOT include mass text messaging to a group (like sending one message to all your contacts in WhatsApp) or customized one-on-one
  messaging (that is covered in one-on-one messaging).
• One-on-one direct messaging: Includes emails, text messages, Facebook messages, DMs, and other interactions that are tailored to the individual you’re speaking with. *Note: It DOES NOT include email newsletters, mass text messages, general social media posts, or phone/text banking that relies on a set script. It only covers organic, individualized
  messaging.
• Community Canvassing or Booth/Tabling: Includes setting up a table or booth in a specific location and outreach activities conducted on the ground in an area, such as flyering and conversations with community members in public spaces such as streets, parks, and plazas.

OR:

vaccine clinics including: (see MOU for grantee deliverables)

• Vaccine Clinics include:
• When your organization coordinates the event by securing and coordinating with the vaccine provider and promoting the event.
• Incentives for individuals who attend vaccination clinics and get vaccinated.
• If you coordinated the event in partnership with other organizations. However, if your participation was limited to attending the event, such as setting up a booth/table, then you would report that activity under the activity type “Community Canvassing or Booth/Tabling” instead.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

CFRA will provide a simple tracker spreadsheet to mini-grant recipients to track and report fiscal data monthly, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Number of individuals interacted with.
• Number of outreach activities by type as listed above in the NOFO instructions (Community canvassing or booth/tabling; group training or events; door-to-door canvassing; phone banking; text banking; one-on-one direct messaging).
• Main focus populations/communities interacted with (including racial/ethnic groups, LGBTQ+, older adults, youth, people with disabilities, people with limited English proficiency, people experiencing homelessness, and people living in multi-generational and multi-family households).
• Number of vaccination clinics hosted.
• Numbers of individuals vaccinated through hosted vaccination clinics.
• Counties served

Data Reports will be due monthly according to the parameters set by CFRA

VEC Data Collection Tool NEW (1) 

CFRA will provide a narrative survey to grantees twice during the contract period to collect information
on the implementation of funds to be reported to Sierra Health Foundation. These reports will be due
according to the parameters set by CFRA.

Progress Narrative Survey Due October 20th, 2022. Complete Survey here

Final Survey Due January 15th, 2023

Resources & Tools

 

[1] Tableau Public. (2022). LHJ Vaccine Equity Performance. CA Open Data. LHJ Vaccine Equity Performance | Tableau Public

VACCINE EQUITY MINI-GRANT INFO SESSION

On September 16, 2022 from 11am to 12pm, CFRA hosted a webinar for all member FRCs interested in the Vaccine Equity Mini-Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity.

VEC NOFO Info Webinar 9/16/22

VACCINE EQUITY MINI-GRANT Data Collection and Invoices

VEC Data and Invoice Training Webinar 10/5/22