United States: Together We Protect – Colorado’s COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Fund

Deadline: 29-Jun-21

The Caring For Colorado Foundation is offering Together We Protect – Colorado’s COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Fund to support organizations working in communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19 to ensure that people who face systemic barriers have the most appropriate and accessible information about the COVID-19 vaccine and can access the vaccine through low-barrier opportunities.

Together We Protect – Colorado’s COVID-19 Vaccine Equity supports community-centered and trusted Colorado-based organizations to provide culturally relevant outreach, education, and support to children, youth and/or caregivers to ensure that those who face systemic barriers have access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Efforts targeting youth who are currently eligible to receive the vaccine (ages 12 and older), as well as those likely to become eligible for the vaccine will be considered (emergency authorization for younger ages is expected in late 2021/early 2022).

Funding Information

Grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 will be awarded to applicants from across Colorado.

Types of Activities

Funds can be used for expenses directly related to outreach, education and/or vaccine access activities that address youth and/or caregiver hesitancy and concerns about the vaccine as well as logistical barriers to youth getting the vaccine. The following are examples of activities the funds can be used to support:

One-on-one or small group health education and vaccine trust building engagement with youth and/or caregivers, including peer-to-peer youth leadership and advocacy and caregiver-targeted engagement activities in trusted spaces such as schools, faith-based organizations, clinics, community-based youth centers, other youth-centered spaces and events (such as back-to-school events, youth groups, enrichment and/or athletic programs, etc.).
Youth-led education and will-building campaigns using culturally appropriate messaging and media platforms through digital and non-digital channels best suited for different communities.
Low-barrier vaccine access such as pop-up or targeted immunization clinics (including mobile clinics) in trusted spaces such as schools, faith-based organizations, clinics, community-based youth centers, other youth-centered spaces and events (such as back-to-school events, concerts, festivals, etc.). Clinics targeting youth may also reach family members and others needing vaccination.
Creative use of incentives, contests, and other strategies to motivate youth vaccination, including those designed and led by youth.
Supportive services to reduce barriers to vaccine clinics including transportation assistance, translation and interpretation, scheduling assistance for those without digital access and other supports identified at the community level.
Other innovative and best practice strategies that support youth having access to the vaccine. They are open to your ideas!

Eligibility Criteria

Be a community-based nonprofit organization; a youth advocacy and/or youth-led organization or group; an out-of-school time and youth enrichment provider; a health clinic serving a high percentage of children and youth, and/or families, enrolled in Medicaid/CHP+ (pediatric, family medicine, and SBHCs); or a public school/district serving a high percentage of students from communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Entities that do not have 501c3 status or are not a local government or public agency are eligible to apply using a fiscal sponsor.
Have deep roots in and a history of providing culturally responsive and trusted information and services to youth and caregivers from the following communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19:
- communities of color
- immigrant and refugee communities,
- youth/families with limited English proficiency/language barriers,
- youth with disabilities,
- youth experiencing homelessness/housing instability,
- youth in the foster care system,
- LGBTQ+ youth,
- families living on low income
Have the flexibility and capacity to quickly develop and implement activities to provide accessible information to youth and caregivers and/or low-barrier opportunities for immunization.
If proposed activities include vaccination, demonstrate clear partnership with a state-contracted vaccine provider (if a community-based organization is the applicant) OR show strong partnership with a communitybased nonprofit organization for implementation (if applicant is a local government agency or vaccine provider). Immunization activities must ensure consent protocols are in place for minors.
Be willing to share lessons learned, education strategies and messages, and other creative ideas that help to address barriers to immunization in communities facing systemic inequities.