HEAL-OC
(Health Equity and Literacy in Orange County)

Addressing COVID-19 Inequities in Orange County

Using the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), we identified 92 census tracts within 10 miles of the city center of the City of Santa Ana that fall within the upper quartile on the SVI. These 92 census tracts include 588,628 inhabitants in Santa Ana and the neighboring cities of Anaheim and Garden Grove. Over 80% of these inhabitants (491,000) identify with a racial/ethnic minority group, predominantly Hispanic/Latino/a/x (approximately 328,000), and Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI; approximately 148,000 residents, primarily Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Samoan and Tongan).

The disparate population of focus includes 588,000 residents of the City of Santa Ana and the surrounding North OC area (up to 10 miles from city center live in 92 census tracts that fall in the highest quartile of the Social Vulnerability Index. 88% (518,000) of these individuals identify as belonging to a racial/ethnic minority group and 21% (122,000) experience limited English proficiency (LEP).

These individuals:

make up 18% of OC's total population, but 41% of its confirmed COVID-cases and 43% of COVID deaths (source: Orange County Health Care Agency COVID-19 Dashboard)
include a population of minority older adults that have been vaccinated in proportions 10-20% lower than those of the total older adult population. (source: Orange County Health Care Agency COVID-19 Dashboard)

Learn More at the LA Times

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Study Aim 1: To co-develop with the community a DISPARITY IMPACT STATEMENT as a framework to guide the development, implementation, and evaluation of a Population Health Literacy Plan

Study Aim 2: To develop and implement a POPULATION HEALTH LITERACY PLAN to deliver linguistically and culturally appropriate COVID-19 education and resources to Latino and AAPI residents in the targeted communities

Study Aim 3: To achieve a 50% gap reduction and achieve a 50% increase in the proportion of residents with a confirmed vaccination in an information system

Study Aim 4: To establish a Health Literacy Working Group Including at least 4 community health centers and conduct baseline measurements of Healthy People 2030 health literacy objectives HC/HIT-01, HC/HIT-02, and HC/HIT-03.

Study Aim 5: To co-develop and implement a feasible, culturally competent intervention at up to 4 community health centers.

Study Aim 6: To achieve HP2030 target values for health literacy objectives HC/HIT-01, HC/HIT-02, and HC/HIT-03 or reduce the gap between the baseline and target value by at least 20%.

ClicK Here to See the Health People 2030 Objectives

Click here to see the NCLAS Standards

HEAL-OC students have the opportunity to learn and conduct community based participatory research first hand through:

Qualitative Methodology (Interviews and Focus Groups)

Recruitment and Questionnaire Administration

UROP / Conferences

Semi-structured in-depth interviews with individuals working on the project to assess the logistics of a unique cross-industry research platform

Focus groups with our Community Stewards Board to assess the impact of measures on the community and provide feedback for the larger HEAL-OC initiative

On-site recruitment and administration of questionnaires about the patient provider experience
Direct interaction with healthcare professionals at one of four community health clinic sites
Opportunities to be in the clinical setting and observe and work within a healthcare work flow