DHS Community Outreach Grant (COVID-19 Vaccination)

DHS Community Outreach Grant

Geographic Scope: Wisconsin

Focus Areas:

• Increase knowledge of and access to COVID-19 vaccines
• Support for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID)
• Reduce barriers to vaccine access for marginalized or underserved populations
• Promote health equity in COVID-19 vaccination

Background:
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced $8.1 million in grants awarded to organizations across the state. Through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DHS offered an additional $13 million dollars for the Vaccination Community Outreach (VCO) Grant program, which originally distributed $6.2 million to organizations in early 2021.

Target Population:
Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), who face barriers to accessing medical care, mistrust of the medical community and vaccines, and are at high risk of developing serious complications from COVID-19.

Activities:

• Outreach activities to increase vaccination rates
• Serve as trusted messengers within communities
• Culturally relevant information and engagement
• Promote vaccine acceptance

Award Date: December 9, 2021