Community Activation to TrAnsform Local sYSTems (CATALYST)

Community health workers (CHWs) played an essential role in addressing multi-level, community barriers to accessing COVID-19 information, testing, risk mitigation, and vaccination; however, little is known about how CHWs managed their roles in light of enormous social, community, and political challenges. In May 2020, the Orange County Health Equity COVID-19 Community- Academic Partnership formed with community-based health equity leaders and health equity academic partners to elevate the need for and guide local COVID-19 equity response and recovery initiatives. Equitable recovery must address larger civic engagement needs, and CHWs were essential to navigating rising anti-immigrant attitudes, and promoting civic engagement for census complete count and elections turnout in addition to COVID-19 education and chronic disease management.