MAINE'S INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS COVID-19 HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG POPULATIONS AT HIGH RISK AND UNDERSERVED, INCLUDING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. - COVID-19 MADE EVIDENT SYSTEMIC HEALTH INEQUITY THROUGH A LACK OF SUFFICIENT, QUALITY DATA TO UNDERSTAND THE NUANCED NEEDS OF MAINE?S UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, A STATE PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE LACKING AN EQUITY FRAMEWORK AND ADEQUATE STAFFING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, WEAK INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS MOST ABLE TO ADMINISTER LOCAL SERVICES, AND A LACK OF CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS TAILORED TO THE INDIVIDUALS WE SERVE. FURTHER, WE ARE ONLY BEGINNING TO SEE LONG-TERM HEALTH IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC ON THE PSYCHO-SOCIAL WELLBEING OF COMMUNITIES, SUBSTANCE USE, OVERDOSE DEATHS AND INFANT MORTALITY.MAINE IS THE MOST RURAL STATE IN THE NATION (WITH OVER 60% OF THE STATE?S POPULATION LIVING IN RURAL AREAS) AND THE POOREST STATE IN NEW ENGLAND. 10.9% OF INDIVIDUALS AND 13.8% OF

Summary

MAINE'S INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS COVID-19 HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG POPULATIONS AT HIGH RISK AND UNDERSERVED, INCLUDING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. - COVID-19 MADE EVIDENT SYSTEMIC HEALTH INEQUITY THROUGH A LACK OF SUFFICIENT, QUALITY DATA TO UNDERSTAND THE NUANCED NEEDS OF MAINE?S UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, A STATE PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE LACKING AN EQUITY FRAMEWORK AND ADEQUATE STAFFING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, WEAK INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS MOST ABLE TO ADMINISTER LOCAL SERVICES, AND A LACK OF CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS TAILORED TO THE INDIVIDUALS WE SERVE. FURTHER, WE ARE ONLY BEGINNING TO SEE LONG-TERM HEALTH IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC ON THE PSYCHO-SOCIAL WELLBEING OF COMMUNITIES, SUBSTANCE USE, OVERDOSE DEATHS AND INFANT MORTALITY.MAINE IS THE MOST RURAL STATE IN THE NATION (WITH OVER 60% OF THE STATE?S POPULATION LIVING IN RURAL AREAS) AND THE POOREST STATE IN NEW ENGLAND. 10.9% OF INDIVIDUALS AND 13.8% OF