Success Story: Educating our community. 

Title: Educating the Hispanic/Latinx Community on COVID-19 

Major Program: Community Engagement 

Plan of work: Educating and empowering individuals and families to make responsible choices and develop life skills 

Outcome Type: Initial Outcome 

Success Story: Educating and empowering the Hispanic/Latinx Community on COVID-19   

Issues: What is the situation? Who cares and why?

KSU Extension focuses on strengthening partnerships and improving the quality of life through Extension programing and education material. The COVID-19 pandemic affected communities of color the most. The vaccination rate for many communities was low, especially within the Hispanic/Latinx community who only accounted for 1.1% of individuals being vaccinated in February 2021. I was able to sit down for a meeting (with LLEO and La Casita) where it was discussed that the lack of education and accessibility to the vaccine were the main reasons for individuals not getting vaccinated. 

Response: What has been done? Summarize your program, project, or response to the issue. 

Upon sitting in on a meeting with LLEO (Louisville Latino Education Outreach) and La Casita Center, we were able to learn that many individuals were not being vaccinated because they did not have enough information that was answering their questions/concerns about the vaccine. We also learned that although the vaccine was being offered in a variety of locations, individuals were unable to attend due to the hours of operations and the lack of Spanish speaking staff available to them. I reached out to Dr. Finn who was able to provide me with publications and information in regards to COVID-19 and the COVID-19 Vaccine, this information was distributed in Spanish to more than 400 people through my community newsletter and during the vaccination drives that La Casita Center hosted.  

Results/Impact: How has your response affected the user/stakeholders involved with the issue?

Through the efforts of LLEO, La Casita Center, and myself over 600 individuals have been vaccinated in Jefferson County through the three different mobile vaccination drive-thru that were done in April, May, and June 2021. These drive-thru vaccination sites were done on the weekend, which allowed for access to working individuals to attend, they also had Spanish speaking staff available to answer questions. I created Spanish packets of information that were distributed which included information on COVID-19, the COVID-19 vaccine, and other Extension related educational materials (such as money managements and eating a healthy balanced diet).