Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color (BIPOC) populations have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, with apparent social, emotional, and physiological ramifications. This pandemic has shed light on the inequalities in our healthcare system that have impacted the BIPOC community for decades. For the BIPOC community, a history of distrust in the healthcare system has contributed to their hesitancy to seek necessary healthcare, including preventive screenings and vaccinations.
Funding awarded by the Kresge Foundation will be used to hold listening sessions with the BIPOC community members and interviews with healthcare providers to better understand challenges and barriers in seeking and delivering healthcare, including mental and behavioral health services.
The Nashua DPHCS will engage members of the community as part of the planning team to recruit community members to participate in listening sessions. The Nashua DPHCS is working with NH Listens to plan and host the listening sessions during the months of August and September. Results from the listening sessions and interviews will allow us to develop and implement training and educational sessions, as well as a marketing campaign.
For further information, please call the Nashua DPHCS at 603-589-4560.
