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Purpose <p>To design, implement, and evaluate a church-based community intervention to provide access to COVID-19 testing in African American neighborhoods in Chicago identified as testing deserts.</p> Methods <p>In collaboration with the Alive Faith Network (AFN), we created a network of church-based COVID-19 testing sites in underserved African American Chicago neighborhoods identified as testing deserts. Sites offered free SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction-based testing, culturally tailored education, and linkage to care and social resources. Over time, we transitioned to community sites due to low turnout at churches.</p> Results <p>We administered a total of 4005 COVID-19 tests across 27 community sites (11 churches and 16 non-church sites) at 397 testing events over 321 testing days. We tested 1847 unique participants, 535 (29.0%) of whom were tested more than once. In summary, 1483 of the 4005 tests (37.0%) were performed in churches and 2522 (63.0%) in community sites such as food pantries, community-based organizations, children and family sporting events, and community celebrations.</p> Conclusions <p>Because of our established relationship with the AFN, we were able to provide an important resource of COVID-19 education and testing for high-risk African American community members in Chicago. The changing nature of the pandemic necessitated real-time changes in our intervention strategy. Our study underscores the importance of robust collaborations between healthcare providers and community organizations to ensure a flexible, seamless and equitable response to future public health emergencies.</p>

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Implementing a Covid-19 Testing Intervention in African American Testing Deserts in Chicago: an Academic-Community Partnership to Promote Covid-19 Health Equity

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月24日

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  • Yolanda Cartwright,
  • Latania K. Logan,
  • Lelia H. Chaisson,
  • Sumihiro Suzuki,
  • Steve M. Epting,
  • Elizabeth Davis,
  • Angela Moss,
  • Elizabeth Avery,
  • Tami Olinger,
  • LaDawne Jenkins,
  • C. Scott Smith,
  • Jamillia DeLaughter-Young,
  • Cassaundra Jackson,
  • Elizabeth Lynch

摘要

Purpose

To design, implement, and evaluate a church-based community intervention to provide access to COVID-19 testing in African American neighborhoods in Chicago identified as testing deserts.

Methods

In collaboration with the Alive Faith Network (AFN), we created a network of church-based COVID-19 testing sites in underserved African American Chicago neighborhoods identified as testing deserts. Sites offered free SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction-based testing, culturally tailored education, and linkage to care and social resources. Over time, we transitioned to community sites due to low turnout at churches.

Results

We administered a total of 4005 COVID-19 tests across 27 community sites (11 churches and 16 non-church sites) at 397 testing events over 321 testing days. We tested 1847 unique participants, 535 (29.0%) of whom were tested more than once. In summary, 1483 of the 4005 tests (37.0%) were performed in churches and 2522 (63.0%) in community sites such as food pantries, community-based organizations, children and family sporting events, and community celebrations.

Conclusions

Because of our established relationship with the AFN, we were able to provide an important resource of COVID-19 education and testing for high-risk African American community members in Chicago. The changing nature of the pandemic necessitated real-time changes in our intervention strategy. Our study underscores the importance of robust collaborations between healthcare providers and community organizations to ensure a flexible, seamless and equitable response to future public health emergencies.