HBCU Trains Communities of Color
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.711.9332Keywords:
COVID-19; Contact Tracing; Work Readiness; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)Abstract
In June 2020, the University of the District of Columbia began a dual virtual skills certificate program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The historically black college and university’s (HBCU) introductory program prepared individuals for careers as Contact Tracers and Community Health Workers. A sample of 55 students participated in the pilot program to learn how to investigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The program targeted District residents who received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits. The TANF program provided work readiness training to low-income families to enable them to move from public assistance to self-sufficiency. Program participants earned a dual certificate in Contact Tracing and Community Health Worker after completing the 20-hour program. The UDC work readiness program created a career pathway in healthcare which combines education, training, credentialing. The program includes support services to assist individuals with advancing in a high-demand occupation while earning a living wage. The demand for contact training demonstrates that HBCUs are a viable option to engage communities of colors to reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
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Accessed October 13, 2020.
[3] Watson, Crystal, DrPh, MPH, Cicero, Anita, JD and James Blumenstock, MA and
Michael Fraser, PhD, CAE. A national plan to enable comprehensive COVID-19 case
finding and contact tracing in the US. April 10, 2020. https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/our-work/pubs_archive/pubs-pdfs/2020/200410- national-plan-to-contact-tracing.pdf.
Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security. Accessed on October 17, 2020.
[4] Westman, Nicole. Contact tracing programs have to work with local communities to be
successful. The Verge June 10, 2020.
https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/10/21285166/contact-tracing-community-partnerships- trust-coronavirus.
Accessed on October 23, 2020.
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September 1, 1996.
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act-1996. Accessed on October 27, 2020.
https://aspe.hhs.gov/report/personal-responsibility-and-work-opportunity-reconciliation-
act-1996
[6] Hahn, Heather, Adams, Gina, Spaulding, Shayne and Heller, Caroline. Supporting the
childcare and workforce development needs of TANF families. The Urban Institute. April
2016. https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/79481/2000692-Supporting- the-Child-Care-and-Workforce-Development-Needs-of-TANF-Families.pdf. Accessed on October 22, 2020.
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Focus Spring 1989 https://www.irp.wisc.edu/publications/focus/pdfs/foc114e.pdf#:~:text=Under%20the%201988%20legislation%2C%20all%20states%20must%20establish,and%20employment%20necessary%20to%20avoid%20long-term%20welfare%20dependence. Accessed on October 21, 2020.
[8] LINCs for States. Work readiness credentials.
https://lincs.ed.gov/lincs/discussions/workplace/07work_ready.html. Accessed on
October 29, 2020.
[9] Johns Hopkins University Hub Staff Report. COVID-19 poses unique challenges for
people with disabilities. The Hub April 23, 2020.
https://hub.jhu.edu/2020/04/23/how- covid-19-affects-people-with-disabilities/.
Accessed on October 12, 2020.
[10] Ascend at the Aspen Institute. Two-generation approach to leveraging TANF: DC as a
case study for policymakers. October 2020.
file:///C:/Users/antho/Downloads/Two-Generation-Approach-to-Leveraging-TANF_-
DC-as-a-Case-Study.pdf. Accessed on October 28, 2020.
[11] Bloom, Dan, Loprest, Pamela J. and Zedlewski, Sheila R. TANF recipients with barriers
to employment. The Urban Institute August 2011.
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/barries_employ.pdf.
Accessed on October 28, 2020.
[12] The Urban Institute. Two generation approach. Metropolitan Housing and Communities
Policy Center. https://www.urban.org/policy-centers/metropolitan-housing-and-communities-policy-center/projects/host-initiative-action/designing-housing-platform-services/two-generation-approach. Accessed on October 27, 2020.
[13] Zou, Isabella. Can the state convince people of color to trust contact tracing? The
Connecticut Mirror August 11, 2020.
https://ctmirror.org/2020/08/11/can-the-state-convince-people-of-color-to-trust-contact-tracing/. Accessed on October 16, 2020.
[14] McCarten-Gibbs, Maggie. Building trust to ensure effective and ethical contact tracing in
communities of color Commentary August 13, 2020.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/building-trust-ensure-effective-and-ethical-contact-tracing-communities-color. Accessed October 18, 2020.
[15] Farmer, Blake. Meharry President tells Congress to lean on HBCUs in COVID-19
responses. Nashville Public Radio May 27, 2020.
https://wpln.org/post/meharry-president-tells-congress-to-lean-on-hbcus-in-covid-19-
response/. Accessed on October 18, 2020.
[16] Solar O, Irwin A. A conceptual framework for action on the social determinants of health.
Geneva: World Health Organization, 2010.
https://www.who.int/sdhconference/resources/ConceptualframeworkforactiononSDH_eng.pdf?ua=1. opens in new tab. Accessed on October 15, 2020.
[17] Landers SJ, Stover GN. Community health workers — practice and promise. Am J Public
Health 2011; 101:2198-2198.
[18] Lehmann, Christine. MA. Contact tracer teams growing amid new challenges. WebMd
Health News June 30, 2020.
https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200630/contact-tracer-teams-growing-amid-new- challenges. Accessed October 14, 2020.
[19] Hasak, Jonathan. A diverse approach to scale contact tracing. Forbes May 11, 2020.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/gradsoflife/2020/05/11/a-diverse-approach-to-scale- contact-tracing/#375d58994a2b. Accessed on October 19, 2020.
[20] Daube, Elizabeth. An epidemic of inequality. UCSF Magazine October 2020.
https://www.ucsf.edu/magazine/covid-inequality. Accessed October 17, 2020.
[21] Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). How to address COVID
19 in communities of color. ASTHO Blog June 3, 2020. https://www.astho.org/StatePublicHealth/How-to-Address-COVID-19-in-Communities-of-Color/06-03-20/. Accessed October 17, 2020.
[22] Simmons-Duffin, Selena. June 18, 2020. As states reopen, do they have the workforce
they need to stop Coronavirus outbreaks? NPR: Shots Health News June 18, 2020. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/06/18/879787448/as-states-reopen-do-they-have-the-workforce-they-need-to-stop-coronavirus-outbreak. Accessed October 17, 2020.
[23] Dempsey, Tom. They can save lives’ DC plans to hire hundreds more of Contact Tracer
Force. WUSA News Channel 9. May 1, 2020. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/they-can-save-lives-dc-plans-to-hire-hundreds-more-for-contact-trace-force/65-f2e3bc68-07f1-454a-bebd-dc8b6e7253d3. Accessed on October 22, 2020.
[24] Sutherland, William. HBCUs-relevant and necessary in the 21st century America.
hbcus-relevant-and-necessary-in-21st-century-america. Accessed on October 19, 2020.
[25] Farmer, Blake. Meharry President tells Congress to lean on HBCUs in COVID-19
responses. Nashville Public Radio May 27, 2020.
https://wpln.org/post/meharry-president-tells-congress-to-lean-on-hbcus-in-covid-19-
response/. Accessed on October 18, 2020.
[24] Redden, Elizabeth. Teaching contact tracing. Inside Higher Ed July 22, 2020.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/07/22/open-courses-teach-basics-contact-tracing. Accessed on October 22, 2020.
[26] Steinberg, Don. College announces contact tracing certificate program. CPH News May
28, 2020.
https://cph.temple.edu/about/news-events/news/college-announces-contact-tracing-certificate-program. Accessed October 15, 2020.
[27] Schroeder, Robert. Contact tracing for communities of color UIC July 8, 2020.
https://publichealth.uic.edu/news-stories/contact-tracing-for-communities-of-color/.
Accessed October 19, 2020.
[28] Noel, Marcus. ROI on HBCUs: the role of historically black colleges in the 21st century
Forbes May 2, 2016. https://www.forbes.com/sites/under30network/2016/05/02/roi-on-hbcus-the-role-of-historically-black-colleges-in-the-21st-century/#69785595720b Accessed October 19, 2020.
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2020-11-15
How to Cite
Plummer, Y. (2020). HBCU Trains Communities of Color. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 7(11), 113–124. https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.711.9332
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