COVID-19: Engaging Hmong and Hispanic Populations in Bi-Directional Communication

WIPPS is proud to be partnering with several community groups, including the Marathon County Health Department, the Hmong American Center, EAG Interpreters and the Medical College of Wisconsin – Central Wisconsin, to coordinate outreach efforts to the Hmong and Hispanic communities in our area in order to convey information about COVID-19. WIPPS Health Policy Fellow Dr. Corrie Norrbom, WIPPS Community Outreach Consultant Tony Gonzalez, and Mang Xiong of the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, are presenting this webinar about the project. It is free and open to the public.

SIGN-IN WILL BE POSTED THE DAY OF THE WEBINAR.

An informed public plays a significant role in preventing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and mitigating the spread of COVID-19. The importance of reaching all populations is paramount in a pandemic situation, and immigrant populations are particularly vulnerable. Central Wisconsin is home to growing Hmong and Hispanic communities, and messaging has not consistently reached these communities. Language, cultural, and literacy barriers exist. Immigration issues and discrimination further complicate the situation. Additionally, health and resource information is not static and continues to evolve. Healthcare providers and existing systems are often not fully aware of these issues and lack effective communication networks for underserved populations. Consistent reliable back-and-forth communication is needed to build and maintain trust. This presentation will describe an innovative approach developed by a collaboration of multiple community partners to develop systems of bi-directional communication and facilitate regular information exchange between health systems, public health officials, resource agencies, and people in the Hmong and Hispanic communities in North Central WI. Project coordinators will address challenges and early successes.

More information about the event is available by clicking here.