Posted
ARPA Annual Report Highlights
COVID-19 Outbreak and Response: Keeping Schools and the Local Economy Open
Washington County public health teams responded to 727 outbreaks over the past year, not including outbreaks during the Omicron surge in January – March 2022. The team responded to support schools, daycares, workplaces, long term care facilities, seasonal farms and other facilities during the course of an outbreak.
During that time period, team members continued to provide guidance and support on disease mitigation and performed needs assessments for high-risk facilities.
Overview of Washington County ARPA Pandemic Response and Recovery, July 2021 – July 2022
Washington County is investing American Rescue Plan funds into a wide variety of areas that balances specific community needs in pandemic response and holistic opportunities in pandemic recovery.
Investment areas include:
- Protecting public health by funding programs that provide isolation and quarantine support, vaccination testing and related community education.
- Community Stabilization and Wellness, recovery efforts include intertwined considerations for household access to child care and provider capacity. As well as investing into behavioral health through additional support for suicide prevention and postvention programs, improved behavioral health staffing. Other funding investment areas include family health, ensuring shelter and safety for families and homelessness and utility relief.
- Stabilizing and supporting the local economy including protecting and developing programs to support small businesses. Other investment areas include workforce development and broadband.
- Other investment priorities include community engagement investments areas will focus on building community capacities, data equity and the continuity of government.
Washington County became the first county in the state in 2021 to vaccinate 80% of all adults
In the last year (between June 2021-June 2022) Total People Vaccinated (see chart below) represents people who have had at least one dose. It includes people who have also had two doses and booster shots.
Surviving Covid-19: Isolation and Quarantine Support for community
For the reporting period of July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022: Wraparound Services has provided support to 3,200 households, most consisting of family units of three or more individuals. When a community member tests positive for COVID-19, isolation is critical to reduce community spread of the disease, but it can be a significant economic barrier for community members who are not able to afford to stay home from work or access paid sick leave. Community health workers support the person or family who is isolating due to a positive COVID-19 test by arranging food delivery, accessing funds to pay rent or mortgage and utilities or other specific needs to ensure they are able to isolate. Ensuring people have the resources to be able to isolate helps prevent transmission and saves lives.