[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49885-49886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12872]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Development of Public Health Vaccine and Prevention Educational 
Campaigns Involving Community Health Workers

AGENCY: Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS).

ACTION: Request for information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office 
of Minority Health (OMH) seeks input on involving community health 
workers (CHWs) to increase ``cultural competency in educational 
campaigns on public health vaccines and prevention, including but not 
limited to influenza and COVID-19.''

DATES: Written comments must be received electronically at the email 
address provided below, no later than 11:59 p.m. on July 11, 2024.

ADDRESSES: OMH invites the submission of the requested information 
through one of the following methods:
     Preferred method: Submit information through the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submissions.
     Email: Send comments to [email protected] with 
the subject line ``OMH RFI: Development of Public Health Vaccine and 
Prevention Educational Campaigns Involving Community Health Workers.''
    Submissions received after the deadline will not be reviewed. 
Respond concisely and in plain language. You may use any structure or 
layout that presents your information well. You may respond to some or 
all of our questions, and you can suggest other factors or relevant 
questions. You may also include links to online material or

[[Page 49886]]

interactive presentations. Clearly mark any proprietary information and 
place it in its own section or file. Your response will become 
government property, and we may publish some of its non-proprietary 
content.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norris Agnew, (240) 268-0665, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background Information

The Office of Minority Health (OMH)

    Authorized under section 1707 of the Public Health Service Act, 42 
U.S.C. 300u-6, as amended, the mission of OMH is to improve the health 
of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of 
health policies and programs that help eliminate health disparities. 
OMH grant awards and other activities are intended to support the 
identification of effective policies, programs, and practices for 
improving health outcomes and to promote sustainability and 
dissemination of these approaches.

Role of Community Health Workers in COVID-19 Vaccination and Prevention

    The COVID-19 pandemic magnified disparities within the United 
States healthcare system, notably in access to culturally competent 
health information and services for racial and ethnic minority 
populations. CHWs emerged as key figures in addressing COVID-19 vaccine 
confidence concerns and supporting other prevention strategies.
    The Congressional report accompanying the FY 2023 appropriations 
law requested that OMH focus on involving CHWs to increase ``cultural 
competency in educational campaigns on public health vaccines and 
prevention, including but not limited to influenza and COVID-19.'' \1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP00/20220630/114968/HMKP-117-AP00-20220630-SD003.PDF.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Request for Information

    Through this RFI, OMH seeks to obtain information from CHWs, 
recipients of CHW services, and organizations representing and/or 
communities using CHWs to guide the development of an educational 
campaign focused on increasing the cultural and linguistic competency 
efforts related to public health vaccines (e.g., influenza and COVID-
19) and other prevention strategies.
    Please Note: This request for information (RFI) is for planning 
purposes only. It is not a notice for a proposal and does not commit 
the federal government to issue a solicitation, make an award, or pay 
any costs associated with responding to this announcement. All 
submitted information shall remain with the federal government and will 
not be returned. All responses will become part of the public record 
and will not be held confidential. The federal government reserves the 
right to use information provided by respondents for purposes deemed 
necessary and legally appropriate. Respondents are advised that the 
federal government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the 
information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to 
any information submitted. Responses will not be accepted after the due 
date.

III. Questions

    Note: We understand that not all questions may apply to each 
respondent's experience or capacity. Small organizations, 
individuals, or groups of recipients who may not have access to 
comprehensive data or resources are still encouraged to share their 
valuable insights and experiences.

    1. What specific methods or practices (i.e., discussing vaccines as 
part of a prevention program, prioritizing social determinants of 
health (SDOH), being a member of the cultural group being engaged, 
etc.) are required to build trust around vaccinations within the 
communities you serve?
    2. What innovative culturally competent practices have resulted in 
increasing vaccine uptake or vaccine confidence in your communities?
    3. What training programs have been effective in engaging CHWs to 
enhance cultural and linguistic competency to support vaccine 
confidence and other prevention efforts?
    4. What training, coaching, or learning collaborations would 
improve the ability of CHWs to improve vaccine confidence or vaccine 
uptake in their communities?

IV. Definitions

    For the purposes of this RFI, the following working definitions 
apply:
    Community Health Worker--a frontline public health worker who 
promotes wellness by helping people adopt healthy behaviors. They 
implement programs and advocate for people who may have limited access 
to health resources and social services. Community health workers are 
employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, public health 
departments, and community-based organizations. Community health 
workers act as intermediaries between their clients and providers of 
healthcare and social services. They identify health-related issues, 
collect data, and discuss clients' health concerns within the 
community. For example, community health workers might identify 
barriers preventing clients from accessing transportation and provide 
referrals to resources that provide transportation. Community health 
workers work closely with other healthcare and social service 
providers, including registered nurses, social workers, and substance 
abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors.
    Cultural and Linguistic Competence--encompasses the ability of 
providers and organizations to deliver services that are respectful of 
and responsive to the health beliefs, practices, and cultural and 
linguistic needs of diverse patients. It involves recognizing and 
addressing biases, facilitating communication across cultural 
boundaries, and tailoring health delivery to meet patients' social, 
cultural, and linguistic expectations. This competency is critical in 
ensuring equitable healthcare access, enhancing patient-provider 
relationships, and improving health outcomes in diverse patient 
populations.
    Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)--these are the conditions in 
the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, 
worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and 
quality-of-life outcomes and risks. The five domains of SDOH are 
Economic Stability, Education Access and Quality, Health Care Access 
and Quality, Neighborhood and Built Environment, and Social and 
Community Context.
    Vaccine Confidence--refers to the trust that individuals or 
communities have in the safety and efficacy of vaccines and in the 
systems that deliver them. This includes beliefs about the development, 
testing, approval, and policies that lead to vaccine distribution and 
administration. High levels of vaccine confidence contribute to higher 
vaccination uptake, which is crucial for the success of immunization 
programs.

    Dated: April 19, 2024.
Norris Agnew,
Lead Public Affairs Specialist, Division of Information and Education, 
HHS Office of Minority Health.
[FR Doc. 2024-12872 Filed 6-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-29-P