The Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation

PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

Widener University is located in Chester, Pennsylvania, just south of Philadelphia. In Chester, an increasing rate of poverty has been growing, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the 2018 US Census, 33.6% of Chester’s population lives below the poverty line. Widener’s team recognized five dimensions of poverty affecting residents including low household income, limited education, no health insurance, low-income area, and unemployment. The Widener team worked to address health disparities, especially those related to the COVID-19 pandemic. They worked with Everest Urgent Care and Widener as partners to ensure that uninsured Chester residents (many of whom are non-citizen, foreign- born, or African American) could access COVID-19 testing at a reduced or free cost.

Seeking to address systemic injustice, the team also conducted research to understand the dimensions of health disparities. From this research, they developed educational programming at Widener to increase knowledge of health access and inequities, ultimately forming a health equity policy research and action group. They worked to educate the broader Chester and Widener communities through events that raised awareness on health and racial equity as well as health disparities in the community.

This program strived towards four goals: 1) to relieve some of the financial burdens of this health crisis, 2) to increase the accessibility of COVID testing for the city’s residents 3) to educate Widener’s campus and the Chester community on the deficiencies and the impacts of implicit bias in the healthcare system 4) to create systemic change through the development of a research group targeted towards uncovering racial disparities among the underserved population in Chester.”

MEET THE TEAM LEADERSHIP

Ijjae Hill is a rising junior in the DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) program as well as a Student Engagement Mentor for the PSC (Presidential Service Corps) Bonner Program. She is also a newly appointed student trustee on the Widener Board of Trustees. Ijjae’s commitment to giving back to underserved communities and service experiences have contributed to her passion to create systemic change in the Chester community through the development of health equity resources.

Kaitlyn Lathrop is a rising junior with a Marketing and Communication Studies dual major and serves as a Pride Service Site Leader for the Chester Shade Tree Commission. Her involvement in multiple community service experiences in the community has made her passionate and knowledgeable about its health disparities. After the events of summer 2020, Kaitlyn felt fueled towards practically supporting people of color especially.

Graduate student Bolanle Akinloye, who is pursuing an MBA in health care management, joined the team to conduct interviews with residents, community leaders, and health care providers, and to analyze data. Bolanle used her skills to design and carry out conversations to shed light on the perspectives of community residents about COVID-19 and its prevention.

The team was advised by key staff and faculty. In 2020-21, Alexandra Garney served as Civic Engagement Program Manager for the Center for Civic Engagement, supporting the Presidential Service Corps Bonner Leaders, Pride Service Site Leaders, and Maguire Scholars. Dr. Marina Barnett teaches Social Welfare Policy, Organizational Practice, and Grant Writing and Community Organization at the BSW, MSW, and Ph.D. levels. Marina has more than 30 years of experience working with community-based organizations to develop organizational capacity, engage in strategic planning, and secure grants. Marina chairs the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee, Advising Taskforce, and is Co-Director of the Academic Service-Learning Faculty Development Program.

UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF NEIGHBORING CHESTER

The team research and utilized various sources in their proposal and plan to exhibit the effects of health inequity in Chester, Pennsylvania. Chief amongst that data was the rise of health disparities evident in Chester, where more than 30% live at the poverty level and 10% are uninsured. Additionally, 27% are foreign-born and 35.1% are non-citizen (2018 Census). The lack of health insurance and low accessibility of medical services pose harmful threats to Chester. Team leaders sought to address the fact that, according to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, “uninsured people are more likely to have poor health status, more likely to be diagnosed later, and more likely to die prematurely” (DPHP, 2020).

The team recognized that unmet health needs prior to the COVID-19 outbreak were negatively impacting the population now. In the city of Chester, which is also predominantly African American, there had already been 882 cases and 36 deaths. The health conditions among the population, coupled with the scarcity and high cost of testing options, posed challenges.

Partnering with Everest Urgent Care and County Providers

Everest Care, a long-term local community partner, was eager to work with the team from Widener to address racial and social injustices faced within the community. Everest Care wrote, “This support will mobilize students, alumni, staff, faculty, and partners to work for anti-racist and racially just structural, policy, educational, economic, and social change in the city of Chester, PA,” in a letter of support for the team.

“In efforts to relieve some of the emotional, financial, and other burdens hindering Chester residents from obtaining proper medical care, this initiative will increase the accessibility of free COVID testing. The educational program following the testing is aimed to educate the university about health disparities and the role that implicit racial bias plays in the provision of disproportionate care in minority communities.”

The team actively sought direction and input from existing partners and providers, learning to navigate and leverage available resources and services.

ADDRESSING THE NEEDS AND STIGMA SURROUNDING TESTING

The team leveraged Racial Justice Community Funds to help Everest Urgent Care plan and conduct a two-day COVID-19 Testing Clinic for Chester residents. “People need unbiased, real information to help them to make the best decisions for themselves and their families and they're just not getting it right now,” they suggested.

The team also created a COVID Health Equity Research Team that provided $25 stipends to community members that were willing to be interviewed on topics related to health. The qualitative interviews attempted to address questions around their attitudes and actions related to COVID-19, the vaccine, misinformation regarding healthcare and treatment, and the social determinants involved in decision-making regarding health.

As Dr. Barnett noted, the team sought to move deeper into these issues and not merely accept a prevailing narrative that health is worse in communities of color due to the lifestyles of its residents, which often blame the victim rather that examine the social determinants of health. “The racism that occurs in these communities is systemic. It's not just the individual choices that people are making,” Dr. Barnett noted. “Don't say that they're not getting vaccinated when they can't go at a time that's available for them or when there's no testing in their communities or when there's misinformation about it costing $75 when it should have been free.”

USING RESEARCH TO INFORM THE BROADER COMMUNITY

After conducting research and focus groups, the team also sought to share its learning with both the Chester and Widener communities. They planned and hosted a COVID Health Equity Panel in April, involving speakers from the Housing Authority, Board of Health, health care providers and doctors. Community members participated in discussions on how to provide more equitable health care. These educational activities resulted in greater support for the initiative, including from Widener University (which made free tests available for some Chester residents).

“It was an a-ha moment for me when they [the participants] started to realize, ‘okay, let's work together, let's make something happen,’” Kaitlyn said. “Wow!’ Just having this conversation, bringing the facts, talking about some of the issues and some of the successes can really open people's eyes. I can do more and I'm going to do more and we can work together to make sure that we're doing more for the betterment of the community.”

The team was clear in their intention to establish a long-term means for the community to access needed care, as well as better target and deliver existing services. “People have a misunderstanding that poor communities lack resources. It's not true,” Dr. Barnett explained. “Many times they're over-resourced, but those resources are either working against one another, or unfortunately, they don't do a good job marketing and letting people know what's going on.”

In reflection, students shared how much they learned about how to address health disparities in constructive ways, as well as help the residents of Chester in a way that brought them dignity. To demonstrate appreciation for healthcare workers and their contributions throughout the pandemic, they organized and provided meals for Everest Care employees. Motivated to continue the project, they have grown its base of support across campus and community.

TO LEARN MORE

Widener University also featured a story about the students and their work on the project.

The team shared its sources for learning more about Chester County including:

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/Access-to-Health-Services

https://delawarestatenews.net/coronavirus/delawares covid-positive-test-rates-continue-to-rise/

https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2020/09/15/delaware-county-weekly-covid 19-update-sept-15/5808323002/

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/chestercitypennsylvania