Deadline: 7-Jan-22
Applications are now open for the MA COVID-19 Community Grants Program to reduce COVID-19 infections, morbidity, and mortality among Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other people of color in their hardest hit cities and towns, as well as to support education and awareness of vaccination efforts in Massachusetts.
This program has also extended to include Tribal and Indigenous Peoples Serving Organizations (TIPSO) serving Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Hawaiian Natives, Pacific Islanders, and Indigenous Peoples throughout the state who experience multiple barriers to vaccine access in support of the Commonwealth’s efforts to vaccinate its residents, while continuing to promote practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
This program is administered and managed by Health Resources in Action (HRiA), a non-profit public health organization that helps people live healthier lives and create healthy communities through prevention, health promotion, policy and research.
Funding Information
- Total of up to $1.4M available;
- They expect grants will be up to $50,000
Eligible Activities
- Provide education to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19, including messages about vaccines, physical distancing, mask wearing, testing, and other harm-reduction behaviors and activities.
- Engage local communities in conversations and education about COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy, and address questions and concerns.
- Link people directly to vaccination opportunities and/or reduce barriers to access (including, for example, through addressing health and other needs, making referrals to services, etc.).
- Collaborate and coordinate on these activities with various partners (as applicable).
- Engage parents and guardians of children (including those under 12 years old) through the activities (while continuing to engage people of all ages).
- Focus on promoting the “primary series” vaccine (both first and second doses, where appropriate), through the activities, while also promoting booster shots (as applicable).
Eligibility Criteria
Massachusetts community-based organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) serving Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) in the 20 priority cities/towns and/or priority populations in other Massachusetts communities or statewide. Particular emphasis to organizations with service populations disproportionally impacted by COVID-19:
- People who do not speak English, or who prefer to speak in another language
- People who do not have access to transportation, either personal or public, or who face barriers getting to a vaccination location
- People who do not feel comfortable receiving the vaccine in a traditional healthcare setting
- People with disabilities and those who have access and functional needs
- People experiencing homelessness
- People who identify as LGBTQ
- People with mental illness and/or residents with substance use disorder.
For more information, visit https://hria.org/macovidcommunitygrants/