What we should do about COVID-19 racial disparities in Iowa

COVID-19 is causing Iowans to rethink our collective decisions and actions. Many are working from home, social distancing to protect our communities, and doing our best to keep up with school lessons for our kids. I am one of them, and it’s hard. But I recognize that I am privileged to be able to take these precautions.

COVID-19 is the perfect storm of inequities. People serving in occupations like meat processing, transit driving, and direct care can’t socially distance. Their jobs may be essential, but they are physically demanding, relatively low-paid, and often lack protections like paid sick leave and health insurance. Chronic stress and economic insecurity are well-documented causes of health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and asthma — pre-existing conditions related to the most severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Iowa’s leaders must address racial disparities in their response to COVID-19.

Related Issues & Ideas

Report

The Economic Realities of Communities of Color in Iowa

View The Economic Realities of Communities of Color in Iowa
Report

Economic Burden of Health Inequities in the U.S.

View Economic Burden of Health Inequities in the U.S.
Report

2023 County Health Rankings National Findings Report

View 2023 County Health Rankings National Findings Report
Article

Graphic on Equality vs. Equity

View Graphic on Equality vs. Equity
Article

Q&A: REED partners share the power in holding space for rest, healing, collective learning

View Q&A: REED partners share the power in holding space for rest, healing, collective learning
Report

2021 Community Health Needs Assessment

View 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment
White Paper

The Link Between Stillbirth & Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: Firsthand Accounts from American Women

View The Link Between Stillbirth & Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: Firsthand Accounts from American Women
White Paper

Strengths of Latinx Immigrants Despite Legal Violence

View Strengths of Latinx Immigrants Despite Legal Violence
Article

Why building community power is vital for philanthropy

View Why building community power is vital for philanthropy
Report

A Caring, Connected Community: How Greater Des Moines nonprofits met our needs during the pandemic

View A Caring, Connected Community: How Greater Des Moines nonprofits met our needs during the pandemic
Report

The Intersection of Racial Injustice and Youth Health in Central Iowa

View The Intersection of Racial Injustice and Youth Health in Central Iowa
Website

The United States Prosperity Index 2021

View The United States Prosperity Index 2021
Website

Make It Okay messaging in multiple languages

View Make It Okay messaging in multiple languages
Article

8 Ways People of Color are Tokenized in Nonprofits

View 8 Ways People of Color are Tokenized in Nonprofits
Article

Building a Trust-Based Philanthropy to Shift Power Back to Communities

View Building a Trust-Based Philanthropy to Shift Power Back to Communities
Guide

Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap

View Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap

Bridging Gaps: The Crucial Role of Training Medical Students in Culturally Responsive Care

Des Moines University expands current educational offerings related to providing culturally and socially responsive care.

View Story
View Story

Creating Space for Change

Advocates connect through a shared commitment to improve health outcomes.

View Story
View Story

Centering People in Community Planning

Amal Barre's research and advocacy efforts address housing instability and the sense of belonging in the community.

View Story
View Story

Launching the Basic Income Pilot with Community

How UpLift's collaboration with many partners led to greater impact

View Story
View Story

Amplifying Philanthropy’s Impact

Iowa funders are making shifts to center communities and advance equity.

View Story
View Story

Healthy Homes Redefines Community Collaboration

Working together to improve housing is leading to better health outcomes.

View Story
View Story

A Food is Medicine Approach to Health Care

An incentive program has provided a model for increasing access to nutritious foods and improving health outcomes.

View Story
View Story

Cultivating the Soil for Culturally Responsive Health Care

DMU is transforming the way health sciences education is delivered.

View Story
View Story

Zeroing in on Health Needs

A needs assessment of Oakridge Neighborhood residents is informing ways to improve health and well-being

View Story
View Story

Doula Care Becomes Essential Health Care

An Iowa Doula Project is expanding community-based health care to improve Black maternal health outcomes.

View Story
View Story

Improving Health through Community Advocacy

How AMOS engaged hundreds of advocates to push for a children's mental health crisis response system

View Story
View Story

Media's Role in Improving Health

How support to Iowa Public Radio is building awareness of factors that influence well-being

View Story
View Story

Latinx Project Tells Story of Strength and Opportunity

New report highlights central Iowa Latinos contributions and disparities and elevates Latinx leaders

View Story
View Story

Improving Health through Social Supports

MercyOne's community health worker model improves outcomes for families.

View Story
View Story

Re-Imagining How Iowa's Systems Work Together to Best Serve Families

The Vision Council has led conversations on how Iowa's families and children can be safe, secure, healthy, and well in our communities.

View Story
View Story

Champions for Change: A Collective Commitment to Children's Health

Outcomes from Mid-Iowa Health Foundation's HealthConnect Fellowship, October 2019-June 2021

View Story
View Story

Elevating the Latinx Community

How nonprofit leaders brought attention to the Latinx community and built new systems of support during the pandemic

View Story
View Story

Central Iowa Youth Drive Change for Better Health

uVoice high school students commit to learning about and addressing issues, including vaping and racial justice, in central Iowa.

View Story
View Story

The Dream Cube: Art for Social Impact

The Dream Cube, a monolithic structure constructed of pillows piled 8-feet high, popped up in downtown Des Moines late last fall. The provocative piece sparked conversations about the potential of our youth—if they have a safe place to dream.

View Story
View Story

How Youth Are Driving Community Efforts to End Homelessness

dsm Magazine features a unique collaboration that is engaging youth who’ve experienced homelessness in identifying new solutions to address this issue in central Iowa.

View Story
View Story

Creating a Culture of Inclusivity

View Post

How Community Health Workers Can Improve Heart Health

View Post

How Medical-Legal Partnerships Can Link Systems to Improve Health Outcomes

View Post

Creating a Culture of Sustainability in Helping Professions

View Post

Meet Dr. Daniel Zinnel, Incoming Mid-Iowa Health Foundation Board Member

Foundation news
Aug 2, 2023
View Post

Using Data for Systems-Level Advocacy

Advocacy
Jul 28, 2023
View Post

7 Benefits of a Statewide System Approach to Community Health Work

View Post

Why I Advocate for Heart Disease Preventive Strategies

View Post

4 Ways to Center Youth in Mental Health Conversations

View Post

Economic Burden of Health Inequities: 5 Insights to Inform Action

View Post

Disability Rights Attorney Shares What Iowans Should Know About Medicaid

View Post

Health Equity Work in Action: What Funders Should Know

Funder practices
Apr 5, 2023
View Post

Basic Income: 4 Things to Know

Partnerships
Apr 4, 2023
View Post

Prioritizing Advocacy: How a Nonprofit Created a Full-Time Role

Advocacy
Feb 1, 2023
View Post

Meet the team leading UpLift – The Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot

View Post

HealthConnect Fellows: Engaging authentically in systems change

View Post

7 insights gained through a nonprofit merger

Foundation grants
Nov 17, 2022
View Post

Six Elements to Consider with Community Conversations

View Post

Community-Based Participatory Research: What to Know

View Post

How student research informed the basic income project

Action planning
Sep 20, 2022
View Post