The Vaccine Confidence Challenge is the first stage of this long-term effort by the three groups to develop a tiered mobilization strategy that will focus on increasing vaccine confidence and uptake among students, as well as sustain cross-sector collaborations that aim at strengthening the public health system. Understanding that particularly in communities of color where COVID-19 has had disproportionate impact and there is a legacy of mistreatment of Black and brown communities by the medical establishment, the opportunity to build trust in vaccines that can support student and family health is imperative, and will require sustained effort and investment.

Weekly $5,000 grants will be awarded to organizations working to improve vaccine confidence and vaccination rates. Community schools and partners in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Northern Virginia, Washington and District of Columbia are eligible to participate. Applications are open through May 28.

Eligibility is open to community schools and/or school community partners that are considered public, private, and/or non-profit organizations. Eligible schools must be affiliated with a 501(c)(3) status, government organizations, and/or faith-based organizations and be connected to at least one public school within the footprint of Kaiser Permanente regional offices in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Northern Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.

Through the Coalition for Community Schools, of which IEL is the lead partner, the partnership will build off of trusted relationships in schools, in communities, and with trusted medical partners in Kaiser and NASN.

“The Coalition has an opportunity to facilitate the relationships needed to reach families and build the necessary trust through thoughtful and informed community care,” said José Muñoz, director of the Coalition for Community Schools.

“Kaiser Permanente is working to address the health inequities that have been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is critical that we ensure equitable protection from this disease and support our hardest-hit communities,” said Annie Reed, Executive Director of Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools & Communities. “Our school communities play a key role as trusted messengers and physical locations to provide vaccine access for the health and safety of all staff, teachers, students, and families.”

The overall goal of this work is to sustain healthy communities by protecting the health of children and families as a whole.

“As direct representatives of the healthcare system in schools, we see this project as a critical opportunity to improve the health and well-being of our school communities,” said Donna Mazyck, MS, RN, NCSN, CAE, FNASN, executive director of NASN.

Find more information about the challenge at https://iel.org/champions-for-school-health-vaccination-challenge/.