COVID-19 Health Equity Response Team​

In April of 2020, the OHE established the COVID-19 Health Equity Response Team. This diverse taskforce is made up of over 300 community, government, and academic stakeholders who have developed COVID-19 recommendations to serve 11 vulnerable populations in the Commonwealth. In the summer of 2020, the Health Equity Response Team developed 69 recommendations constituting a plan to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 among vulnerable populations and to reduce the potential of unintentional harm, loss of life, suffering and long term multi-generational impact.

See HEAT tab in toolbar to learn more about the expanded work of this team.

Vulnerable populations served:

• Pregnant women and parents of extremely young or multiple children
• Pennsylvanians over age 65
• Racial and ethnic minorities(R/EM)
• LGBTQ community
• Incarcerated or returning citizens
• Individuals living with mental health and/or substance abuse disorder
• Rural Pennsylvanians
• Economically challenged individuals, low-wage essential employees, and the un-and underinsured
• Survivors of interpersonal violence(SIPV)
• Pennsylvanians with disabilities and individuals who experience short-term or persistent housing insecurity or live in congregate housing
• Individuals who have immigrated and/or those for whom English is a second language