Dataset from Reopening Schools Safely and Educating Youth Research Study

Background: This study assessed risk communication as a tool to educate the community on the benefits of COVID-19 testing, while addressing social, behavioral, and ethical concerns for testing and vaccine hesitancy for students returning to in-person learning in the Yakima School District. The goal was to provide a mechanism to identify outbreaks early and stop transmission, as well as provide reassurance to families and to staff about the safety of on-site instruction.

Materials/Methods: The study had three aims. Aim 1 was to identify the rural Latino community's social, ethical, behavioral needs, and resources for students to return to school and maintain on-site learning using qualitative assessments with school stakeholders, parents, and students. Aim 2 was to evaluate the effectiveness of risk communication on student attendance using a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two intervention arms: current learning model (comparison control group) and risk communication (intervention). Aim 3 was to assess implementation outcomes of the program with school stakeholders, parents, and children guided by the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework.

Outcome/Impact: Study findings provided evidence to facilitate policy decisions and best practices at schools that facilitated adoption of COVID-19 risk communication. Risk communication may also inform families about the role of COVID-19 testing and vaccines as part of mitigation strategies to allow for safe in-person learning.