COVID-19 and Health Equity
Disparate health outcomes due to social and structural barriers have long existed, mostly impacting people of color, people with disabilities, low-income people, and people with less education. These disparities have received renewed attention as the same groups of people were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Living conditions, work circumstances, underlying health conditions, and systemic issues in health care and public health all affect the vulnerability of communities, and especially communities of color. This collection of resources and tools is designed to address legal and policy issues that contribute to health inequity, grouped by different social or political determinants of health.
Resources
Legal Repercussions of Public Health Emergency Rescissions
WIC: Lessons Learned from COVID-19
2021 Public Health Law Conference Preview Webinar: Equitable COVID-19 Recovery
Equitable Rebuilding from COVID-19: Strengthening Protections for Communities
COVID-19 Illustrates Need to Close the Digital Divide
Equitable Rebuilding from COVID-19: Strengthening Protections for Families
Equitable Rebuilding from COVID-19: Ensuring Quality Care for Vulnerable Populations
COVID-19 Policy Playbook II: Legal Recommendations for a Safer, More Equitable Future
Declarations of Racism as a Public Health Crisis: Utilizing Declarations to Address Health Inequities
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: Legal Issues and Challenges
Election 2020: Public Health Legal Reforms and Projections
2020 Election: Public Health on the Ballot
Spotlight
From Dust Bowl to Green Heart: How Trees and Policy Can Shape Public Health
Healing Across Generations: Addressing the Impact of Intergenerational Trauma Through Policy Interventions
Liability Protections for Food Donation Help Address Food Insecurity and Food Waste
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Real-time assistance for questions related to COVID-19 response
The Network can assist local, county, tribal and state health agencies with timely guidance, resources and information critical to key COVID-19 response measures, particularly in the areas of:
- public health authority and emergency powers,
- constitutionality of practices,
- health data privacy,
- protections for disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals,
- crisis standards of care, and
- ethical decision making.
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