The Disparities Prevention Initiative represents a thoughtful, deliberate approach to anticipating and minimizing racial and ethnic disparities that may occur as the result of a pandemic. The practice aimed to develop effective outreach to three main racial and ethnic minority groups in North Carolina: African Americans, Latinos, and American Indians.
The practice describes pilot projects to reach residents through the development of local partnerships and effective communication strategies. The project also include a short guidance for selecting key informants and holding interviews. The guidance for key informant interviews engages community leaders, such as elected officials, ministers, volunteer leaders, and advocates. One reviewer thought that engaging these trusted community leaders would provide an insightful perspective on the unique issues their communities face and also provide voices to which community members would listen. The key interviews with community leaders may lead to an understanding of the concern about proper communication between minority groups, public health, and medical officials. One reviewer said North State Medical Society and the state of North Carolina are to be commended for undertaking this effort now to prevent a worsening of disparities during and after a pandemic.
