Program Updates and News

Over nearly four years of partnership, hundreds of community-based organizations have worked alongside the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and DH to prevent the spread of COVID-19, vaccinate community members, relieve pandemic impacts, and support...

The Washington State Public Health Association (WSPHA) is currently accepting presentation proposals for its annual conference held in Yakima from October 9 to 11, 2024. Interested organizations and individuals can submit a short summary of their presentation topic...

Washington Apple Health, a medical assistance program that provides free and low-cost health coverage, will become available for the first time to low-income adults with an undocumented immigration status. However, funding limits for the program require the state to...

The fourth and final edition of the CDO Quarterly is now available on DH’s resource database, Airtable.  As a part of the Community-Driven Outreach (CDO) program, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Desautel Hege (DH) have created the CDO...

The “Nothing About Us Without Us” Act was signed into law by Washington Governor Jay Inslee on March 24. Under the new law, state task forces will be required to appoint members who have lived experience of the issues on the task force’s agenda.   Beginning...

EXP Technical delivers custom IT solutions and support to hundreds of small businesses and nonprofit organizations across the Pacific Northwest.   For CDO initiative partners, the company’s technology resources site,   EXP Academy, is available...

As of February 28, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends adults ages 65 years and older receive an additional dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine.  This recommendation acknowledges the increased risk of severe disease...

The Washington Department of Health (DOH) reports more than a dozen Washingtonians die of COVID-19 every week. This month DOH announced new guidelines for preventing the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. A key change is adjusting the length of...

In 2024, people without a documented immigration status will have more health insurance options to choose from. Subsidies to help pay for certain private insurance plans have been available since January for this population, and an expansion of Washington Apple Health...

Earlier this month, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) launched new kiosks that offer 24/7 access to safe and reliable COVID-19 and flu tests as well as other health care supplies.   Kiosks have begun popping up across the state at food banks,...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a library of communication materials about the Bridge Access Program, which is the federal program that helps adults without insurance or who are underinsured get free COVID-19 vaccines. ...

Below is an updated list of free COVID-19 resources available to the public:  At-home test kits  Free at-home COVID-19 tests can be ordered here. Each household in the U.S. can receive an order of four tests.   People with Washington Apple Health...

The third edition of the CDO Quarterly is now available on DH’s resource database Airtable.  As a part of the Community Driven Outreach (CDO) program, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Desautel Hege (DH) have created the CDO Quarterly, a...

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has launched the Healthier Washington Collaboration Portal (WA Portal), a knowledge-sharing platform for partners working to improve health and wellness across the state.  The site was created by local healthcare...

Open enrollment for health insurance—the period when anyone can buy a health plan—ended January 16, but people in your community who still need coverage may have options. They may qualify for a special enrollment period or for an insurance program that’s open...

The Care Connect Washington program began early in the pandemic, providing food and support to people isolating at home. Fortunately, the Care Connect program continues to offer services to those affected by COVID-19.   Care coordinators work with individuals and...

Two new funding opportunities are available to community-based organizations to aid in increasing visibility for underrepresented communities.   The Seattle Times has recently launched their Community Connection Grant, which seeks to empower the growth of...

During this holiday season filled with traveling and social gatherings, it’s important to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19. Getting vaccinated is an essential part of that. However, even after getting the latest COVID-19 vaccine, the Centers for...

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) recently highlighted their Power of Providers initiative, which equips health care providers to serve as trusted sources of COVID-19 vaccine information for their patients and communities.  The goal of this program...

Last week, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Desautel Hege (DH) hosted a Community Driven Outreach (CDO) Program Community Conversation. Partners met to hear about program and resource updates.  DH shared program resources including the latest...

With the holidays around the corner, it’s important to take proper safety measures to keep your loved ones safe from COVID-19. Here are some tips for lowering the risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses:  Wash your hands often ...

Last week, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Community Collaborative Thought Partner Todd Holloway with Center for Independence (CFI) hosted the October Community Collaborative meeting, which covered the topics of respiratory virus season and...

The second edition of the CDO Quarterly is now available and spotlights CDO contractors and subcontractors Vamos Outdoor Project, Comagine Health, Health Commons Project and Voices of South Pacific.  Each CDO Quarterly highlights the great work being done by CDO...

Community Driven Outreach (CDO) program participants can receive technical assistance through three platforms or tools supported by Desautel Hege (DH) and Washington State Department of Health (DOH): the Community Partner Page, the Community Partner Newsletter and an...

Last week, Desautel Hege (DH) and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) hosted a Technical Assistance (TA) Forum for Community-Driven Outreach (CDO) program partners and shared the following updates about COVID-19 resources.  DOH’s Care-a-Van program...

The Desautel Hege (DH) team has been supporting Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Community Driven Outreach (CDO) program participants with technical assistance through the management of three core platforms or tools – the Community Partner Page, Community...

The Biden Administration recently announced the revival of the program that provides free COVID-19 tests via the United States Postal Service.  Beginning September 25, you can request up to four free tests per household at covidtests.gov or by calling...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Bridge Access Program, which provides access to free COVID-19 vaccines for under- and uninsured adults, has officially launched.  The program will provide vaccines to an estimated 25-30 million adults who...

Are you a community partner participating in DOH’s Community Driven Outreach (CDO) program?   The DH team has developed new “How-To” videos that can help you make the most of these CDO program platforms and technical assistance! You may already be familiar with...

Applications are open to serve on the Family Advisory Council for the Washington Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). This new council will provide suggestions on how to improve the quality and effectiveness of DDA programs. It also will give input to help...

We know that community leaders have questions about how to guide your communities around COVID-19 this fall, and hope that you will join the upcoming Community Collaborative meeting to receive information, ask questions and provide feedback.   Register for the next...

Care-a-Van, the state’s mobile health clinic, is continuing its vaccine services through the end of 2023 and into 2024. The Care-a-Van team expects to offer the new COVID-19 booster according to CDC recommendations as soon as it is available.   To submit a...

A new formulation of the COVID-19 vaccine is expected this fall. For people without health insurance, accessing it may present new challenges.   The original COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. all were bought and distributed by the federal government, and getting...

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) recently announced Mehr Grewal as the 2023 Washington Immunization Champion for her nonprofit work with “Worth a Shot,” an initiative advocating for COVID-19 vaccination in her community.  The Immunization Champion...

With the start of the 2023-2024 school year right around the corner, here are some guidelines from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) about how to prevent and respond to COVID-19 in K-12 settings.  This document outlines guidance in several areas...

Starting in the fall of 2023, COVID-19 vaccines will transition to the commercial marketplace, meaning uninsured adults will lose access to affordable COVID-19 vaccines.   In response, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the Bridge Access...

The National Weather Service predicts “dangerously hot conditions” across much of Washington this week with temperatures forecasted to reach 100 degrees or more in some areas.  The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) recommends taking preventative...

An article by Katelyn Jetelina in Your Local Epidemiologist chronicles COVID-19 trends over the past few years and shares updated resource information for 2023.  There is a new wave of COVID-19, and according to the article, if trends from previous years persist,...

Submit an interest form by August 28 (English | Spanish) to be considered for up to $40,000 from the Washington Department of Health (DOH). Funded projects will improve access to COVID-19 vaccines, health information and prevention resources.  The funding...

The COVID-19 public health emergency ended in May, and special rules are winding down that made some public programs easier for participants. Changes affecting food assistance, student loans, and Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) may deepen financial pressures in the...

As people board buses, planes, and trains or stay with family and friends during summertime travel, it’s a good time to review COVID-19 testing and prevention options. Information is continually updated in the Frequently Asked Questions document posted in the...

As a part of the Community-Driven Outreach (CDO) Program, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Desautel Hege (DH) have created the CDO Quarterly, a quarterly publication highlighting incredible work from program partners.   The Quarterly is a...

The Office of Minority Health (OMH) released a series of resources providing guidance on best practices for equitable COVID-19 responses for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NH/PI) communities.   The resource guide seeks to...

A new study by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that two anti-inflammatory drugs, abatacept and infliximab, reduced deaths among patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19.  The two drugs are typically used to treat inflammatory...

As of June 30, Washington 211 no longer serves as the state’s COVID-19 Hotline.   The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) ended its three-year collaboration with 211, redirecting all COVID-19 related questions to their information hotline...

The Washington State Childhood Vaccine Program (CVP) gives recommended vaccinations for those under the age of 19 to medical providers at no cost, reducing their patients’ financial barriers to immunizations.  COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be added to CVP...

Two federal committees recently met to discuss upcoming updates to the COVID-19 vaccine.   The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) met and voted to update the vaccine’s current composition to a monovalent XBB-lineage....

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is requesting applications for their Community-Based Organization Substance Use Disorder (SUD Px) and Mental Health Promotion Project (MHPP) Enhancement Grants.  HCA is awarding funds ranging from $10,000 -...

The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine is no longer available for use in the U.S. according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  The remaining government stock expired on May 7, 2023, and providers were advised to dispose...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax to manufacture monovalent (single strain) vaccines targeting the omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant by fall 2023.  The XBB.1.5 subvariant is one of the most resistant strains to...

A recent study published by the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) identified 12 symptoms linked to long COVID.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of the more than 100 million people in the U.S. who have had COVID-19,...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided updated resources and guidance on steps to take, such as isolation and masking, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone who has, use...

Check out the new feature on our CPP calendar that allows you to filter upcoming events by county.  At the top of the calendar, you can select “Show Filters” to reveal a “County” tab. From there, you can select the counties you would like to view events...

The Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI) has put together a mental health toolkit that is free and available to use here.  AAHI is a health-focused agency for pan-Asian communities based out of Maryland. The toolkit offers a variety of mental health resources...

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) partners with community organizations and local health jurisdictions to increase access to vaccines through the DOH Care-a-Van, a mobile vaccine clinic serving communities across Washington.   Organizations can...

COVID-19 remains a serious health risk, and several key services still are available to help prevent infection and recover from the disease. Although the end of the official Public Health Emergency on May 11 scaled back many programs, the ones still operating provide...

On May 11, 2023, the federal government’s COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration will expire. As a result, several programs connected to the PHE such as no-cost COVID-19 testing and vaccinations and Medicaid continuous enrollment will be affected. ...

Comagine Health is partnering with three community-based organizations (CBOs) across the state to support a variety of community engagement activities with the goals of increasing screenings for vaccination and chronic disease and improving connections to related...

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is now seeking nominations for the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) Immunization Champion Award for 2023.  The award recognizes state and nationwide efforts to promote or foster immunizations in local...

On May 11, 2023, the federal government’s COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration will expire. As a result, several programs connected to the PHE such as COVID-19 testing and vaccinations will be affected. For more information about how programs will...

Starting this month, changes to Medicaid continuous enrollment provisions may lead to loss of coverage for individuals who are no longer eligible.  The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 determined that Medicaid continuous enrollment would expire on March...

Yield Giving is looking for community-led, community-focused organizations whose mission is to advance the voices and opportunities of individuals and families facing discrimination and other systemic obstacles.   Yield Giving is awarding 250 $1 million...

The federal government declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) at the start of the pandemic. That declaration cleared the way for flexibility in funding and operating health and social service programs. COVID-19 remains a serious illness, but the “Public Health...

In a recent webinar, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced that the COVID-19 vaccine will not be required for K-12 students for the 2023-2024 school year.  This announcement was one of several updates to immunization requirements for pre-K and...

Staying updated on the latest COVID-19 vaccinations is an essential part of keeping yourself and those around you safe.  The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has provided two fact sheets about COVID-19 boosters and pediatric COVID-19 vaccines, with...

The Washington State Department of Health’s (DOH) Behavioral Health Resources and Recommendations page features a variety of resources including podcasts, reports and blogs to support people coping with COVID-19 and other health concerns.   Check out the...

Families that stay up to date on their child’s recommended immunizations play an important role in preventing disease. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many families experienced changes to their routines and may have missed annual well-child visits or immunization...

Vaccine locator tools give people an easy way to find and book a vaccine appointment based on their location and desired vaccine. Both the federal vaccine locator and state vaccine locator offer vaccine appointment information for Washington state residents.  ...

With COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths trending downward nationwide, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) will end the current order requiring masks to be worn in all healthcare, long-term care and adult correctional facilities.  Since the...

The Washington State Department of Health’s (DOH) free at-home testing program, Say Yes! COVID Test (SYCT), will end on May 11, along with the federal public health emergency for COVID-19.  Washingtonians can still order free test kits from the SYCT website, but...

With the relaunch of the Community Partner Page (CPP), the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Desautel Hege (DH) are offering a new COVID-19 asset library to current and past partners.  Airtable is a database for partners to easily access resources,...

Our biweekly newsletter is intended to reach past and present community partners who have led or are currently leading public health communications in partnership with the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). Through the newsletter, we share program...

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) emergency allotments that began at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 officially end today, Mar. 1, 2023.  The emergency allotment was a temporary increase in benefits intended to address food...