Community Driven Outreach Initiative

Chalkboard background with community written in chalk and the "o" replaced with a red heart

About the Community-Driven Outreach (CDO) Initiative

The Community-Driven Outreach (CDO) Initiative builds on the accomplishments of the Community Media Outreach program, implemented October 2020 through January 2023, which specifically focused on connecting with priority communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and that experienced access barriers to COVID-19 information, resources and vaccines.

The goal of the CDO Initiative is to ensure that disproportionately impacted communities continue to have equitable access to COVID-19 information, resources, and vaccines while addressing the social determinants of health amplified by the pandemic. The CDO Initiative helps to build community capacity for long-term recovery and resilience to better position communities for future public health emergencies.

Using a braided funding approach and an equitable funding allocation methodology, $21 million was distributed to communities including 10 community-based and social impact organizations and 100 community-rooted organizations.

DOH recognizes that community-rooted and community-led organizations and groups are better positioned and equipped to respond to community needs to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 information, education, vaccines, and resources. Community-rooted and community-led organizations have a unique understanding of the importance of a trauma-informed approach, logistical and access barriers, context, cultural beliefs, risk perceptions, and norms that impact vaccine confidence and uptake in their communities.

Priority Communities:

  • African Diaspora 
  • Asian
  • Black/African American
  • Hispanic/Latinx
  • Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

Priority Intersections:

  • People living in rural areas
  • People with disabilities
  • Religious groups
  • LGBTQ+ people
  • People over 65 years old
  • People adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality, including:
    • People who are incarcerated
    • Immigrant and refugee communities
    • People with limited English proficiency
    • Agricultural workers
    • Unhoused people/people experiencing homelessness

Funding Period:

The CDO Initaitive started in November 2022 and will continue through May 2025. Each partner may have a unique timeline within the funding period that reflects their tailored activities. 

Get to know the CDO Initaitive partners

Expand each priority community dropdown below to see more.

African Diaspora

 

Center for MultiCultural Health (CMCH)

Reach: King, Pierce and Snohomish counties

CMCH promotes health and wellbeing in diverse communities in partnership with groups and individuals who operate within the communities they serve. They offer services such as vaccine pop ups, food distributions and education programs.

 

Health Commons Project

Reach: Statewide

Health Commons Project is dedicated to bridging health equity gaps in underserved communities operating a public health service accelerator, partnering with community institutions such as schools, health jurisdictions and CBOs.

Asian

APartnership

Reach: Statewide

APartnership is an award-winning multicultural advertising agency specializing in securing Asian-American audiences with a focus in digital and traditional outreach.

Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC)

Reach: Pierce County

APCC is dedicated to building bridges between communities and generations through art, culture, education and business. They represent 47 different countries and cultures and hold deep connections within Washington’s Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

Black/African American

Comagine Health

Reach: Statewide

Comagine Health is a national healthcare consultancy firm working with stakeholders from patients to providers to reimagine and implement a sustainable healthcare system. Comagine was formed from a merger between Qualis Health and HealthInsight in 2018, with clients including government agencies, providers, foundations and privately funded groups.

Momentum Professional Strategy Partners

Reach: Statewide

Momentum Professional Strategy Partners is a black-owned, woman-owned private DEIA consultancy firm specializing in assessments, PR, marketing and community engagement.

Hispanic/Latino/Latina

Centro Cultural Mexicano

Reach: King and Snohomish counties

Centro Cultural Mexicano strives to build an empowered community through all aspects of culture including education, art and connection. They provide financial and educational programs to pursue their mission such as the Small Business Resiliency Network and their Ya Es Tiempo Scholarship.

Desautel Hege (DH)

Reach: Statewide

DH is a communications and creative agency with offices in Spokane and Seattle. Their work supports communications and media projects focused on empowering people, causes and organizations to create positive change. As a communications team, their services include advertising, public relations, creative production and digital media. In addition to their role reaching the Hispanic/Latino(a) community, DH will provide communications support to contractors and subcontractors in the CDO program.

Yakima Valley Community Foundation (YVCF)

Reach: Yakima, Grant and Adams counties

YVCF’s three primary focus areas are health and wellness, civic engagement and quality education, which all aim to advance their mission of increasing access to healthcare. In addition to their community investment programs, they also offer community organization grant sponsorships.

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander

Center for MultiCultural Health (CMCH)

Reach: King County

CMCH promotes health and wellbeing in diverse communities in partnership with groups and individuals who operate within the communities they serve. They offer services such as vaccine pop ups, food distributions and education programs.

Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest (RISNW)

Reach: Snohomish, Whatcom, and Skagit counties

RISNW assists newly arrived immigrants and refugees by empowering them to rebuild their lives and become self-sufficient members of society.

 

Learn more about DOH's community investments

Initiative to Address Health Disparities Across Washington State

Building Community Capacity for Equitable COVID-19 Recovery

Urban Indian Initiative

Contact Us

To learn more, please email the Community Investments and Engagement Team in the Center for Community Relations and Equity.