Health equity navigators are essential in the initiative’s strategy of building community awareness, capacity, and empowerment to advance health equity in Georgia.

Health equity navigators can be part of an on-the-ground network that facilitates connecting people to the resources they need related to COVID-19 control and prevention, and address the root causes of inequities and health disparities exposed by the pandemic.

Navigators focus on helping connect and direct community members to resources they need to access care. Due to the disparities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, many other on-the-ground workers also have a community awareness role, including:

• Community health workers who connect community members and facilitate access to health and social services.
• Community mobilizers who assist with community outreach and engagement efforts.
• Patient navigators whom hospitals and health systems engage to help patients navigate health care services, sometimes specific to one disease or condition.

• Connect community members to resources and public health services to improve screening, testing, and vaccination among rural and underserved communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, who are at a higher risk for COVID-19 and other conditions.
• Assist in community outreach and engagement, training, and support
• Address vaccine hesitancy and other challenges, including difficulty navigating access to care and other well-being services within these communities.

• With recommended evidence-based strategies for outreach and engagement.
• With regular and frequent communication and consultation with the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Georgia Health Policy Center (GHPC).
• Through scheduled quarterly meetings with the GHPC.
• With required training from GHPC.
• By identifying community partners who can serve as and provide resources and communications support for health equity efforts.

Navigators’ efforts will be guided by a workplan, developed by the district.

Community-facing events may include hosted events (in-person and virtual), community and neighborhood meetings (active and passive presence), focus groups, and other small-group discussion sessions with residents. Expectations include:

• Monthly contact with a minimum of 10 to 15 community partners
• Monthly follow-up with 100% of community member contacts
• 100% of required trainings throughout the year
• Participation in a minimum of four monthly community events

Health equity navigators will work in the field and in the office of their local public health district. District health equity program coordinators and Georgia Health Policy Center staff will support them. Program coordinators supervise, provide guidance and direction, and support health equity navigators in their work.

GHPC will coordinate meetings and trainings, provide one-on-one support, evaluate the program, and provide thought partnership in developing workplans and assessments. The Center will develop and provide materials to assist health equity navigators in carrying out their role, but not materials for public distribution.

The Georgia Department of Public Health funds the public health districts and CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) to support this work.

Health equity navigators are responsible for quarterly reporting using a provided template. This reporting will capture:

• Extent and frequency of community contact
• Consequential results of engagement (e.g., vaccines administered, screenings etc.)
• Handoffs and referrals
• Barriers and efforts to mitigate
• Innovations you have successfully employed in your district.

Address questions to healthequity@gsu.edu. Additionally, a portal is in development. Stay tuned for more information.