Oregon Health Authority

Building Awareness and Capacity with Safe + Strong Oregon

Project Overview

In the wake of COVID-19, the State of Oregon’s public health campaign for the pandemic was planning to build a state-wide technical assistance program to strengthen messaging to vulnerable and marginalized populations. The goal? To equip and support community-based organizations (CBOs) and local public health authorities with the most accurate information, public health guidance, and communications tools to raise awareness about the pandemic, encourage communities to stop the spread and make lifestyle decisions in the best interest of public health.

Problem

With time ticking and lives at risk, CBOs around the state were responding to the needs of Oregonians who were most impacted by COVID-19. And with it, came a dire need for a coordinated, trauma-informed response to educate the public and slow the spread of the virus. Plus, it needed to alleviate deep economic impacts to households, allocate resources strategically, and build capacity and energy for a sustained response—especially amongst populations who experience health disparities, barriers to information, resources, and basic-needs support, and speak languages other than English.

Solution

In April 2020, Interplay joined the effort to create communication tools, public health guidance, and to help equip community leaders and outreach-level staff as they served their communities. Through our social impact strategy, strategic planning, creative communications, and community engagement services, the Safe + Strong Technical Assistance program focused on lowering barriers to basic-needs support and resources among populations experiencing health disparities—especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities across Oregon.

Results

The program launched in May 2020, serving over 500 community-based organizations across the state and creating over 15,000 communications materials in 15 languages for the people of Oregon so they could rely on accurate information, helpful health tips, and better navigate the pandemic as it was unfolding.