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Office of Training, Performance, and Equity

The core purpose of the Office of Training, Performance and Equity is to establish and maintain the Public Health Division's infrastructure and capabilities to actively use data and equity principles to deliver the 10 essential public health services and improve the public's health.

Contact Info:

Hannah Ostheimer
Performance Improvement Manager
122 West 25th Street, 3rd Floor West
Cheyenne, WY 82002
307-777-8946

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COVID-19 Health Disparities Grant

Grant Purpose and Intended Outcomes

The purpose of this funding initiative is to address COVID-19 related health disparities and advance health equity by expanding state, local, US territorial, and freely associated state health department capacity and services.

  1. Reduce COVID-19-related health disparities
  2. Improve and increase testing and contact tracing among populations at higher risk and that are underserved, including racial and ethnic minority groups and people living in rural communities, 
  3. Improve state, local, US territorial and freely associated state health department capacity and services to prevent and control COVID-19 infection (or transmission) among populations at higher risk and that are underserved, including racial and ethnic minority groups and people living in rural communities

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) website to learn more about the grant and the recipients.

Funding Available

How to Apply for Funding

Through the federal COVID-19 Health Disparities Grant, the Wyoming Department of Health, with Align’s assistance, is offering up to 8.17 million in reimbursable grants to help eligible entities to build up the health care infrastructure and address historical inequities in Wyoming communities. Learn more and apply at  https://thealignteam.force.com/fundingprograms/s/

All programs will be open for applications by Sept. 15, 2022.

  1. Enhanced Access to Testing, Vaccination, and Mitigation in Shelter Settings Program
  2. Improving Infrastructure and Built Environments for COVID-19 Prevention and Mitigation Program
  3. Hospital and Healthcare Systems Preparedness and Infrastructure Program
  4. Provider Recruitment and Retention in Select High-Need Counties Program
  5. Addressing Basic Needs and Social Determinants of Health Program

Overarching Grant Strategies

  1. Expand existing and/or develop new mitigation and prevention resources and services to reduce COVID-19 related disparities among populations at higher risk and that are underserved.
  2. Increase/improve data collection and reporting for populations experiencing a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 infection, severe illness, and death to guide the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  3. Build, leverage, and expand infrastructure support for COVID-19 prevention and control among populations that are at higher risk and underserved.
  4. Mobilize partners and collaborators to advance health equity and address social determinants of health as they relate to COVID-19 health disparities among populations at higher risk and that are underserved.

Wyoming’s Approach

Wyoming’s work plan includes activities in all four strategies; however, most of the activities are housed within strategies three and four, emphasizing infrastructure, cross-sector partnerships, and addressing social and community needs. Wyoming’s approach focuses on the following:

  1. Supporting or enhancing healthcare systems infrastructure
  2. Improving language access
  3. Addressing social and community needs related to COVID-19
  4. Mobilizing and expanding partnerships and planning and future preparedness