Connecticut Office of Rural Health (CT-ORH) Program

NERHA is assisting the Connecticut Office of Rural Health (CT-ORH) with the implementation of the COVID-19 Health Disparities grant funding awarded to the CT Department of Public Health by the CDC. The CT-ORH partners with several key rural stakeholders to address disparities related to COVID-19. Some initiatives the grant contributes to are:

• COVID-19 Vaccine Equity in Rural Connecticut

• Development of a collaborative working group that includes a rural hospital, federally qualified health center, community action agency, and local health district.

• Outreach, testing and vaccine coordination among vulnerable populations;

• Addresses Transportation barriers –

• Expansion of an on-demand transportation pilot into a high social vulnerability index (SVI) area, 

• COVID-19 vaccine and mitigation messaging;

• Rural Health Equity Initiative: Northwest and Northeast Connecticut

• Development of cross-sector partnerships in rural communities that:

• Addresses COVID-19 related social determinants of health such as vaccine access, housing, mental health, and access to needed social services;