Summary
In response to the existing health equity gap for communities of color, which the pandemic exacerbated, this collaboration tackled the challenge of increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates and improving health equity among Latina/x/o individuals of childbearing age in southern Arizona. Partnering with the local health department and a diverse Community of Practice, our team employed a Human-Centered Design approach to co-create and pilot solutions that address critical health needs and strengthen patient-practitioner trust. Our year-long design process led to the successful implementation of a community and a clinical pilot that enhanced healthcare navigation and engagement for our primary users, with early outcomes showing positive impacts on the local healthcare system. This experience underscores the power of creating space for cross-disciplinary collaboration and offers valuable insights into integrating equity-focused practices within service design. Attendees will learn about the effectiveness of coalition-based approaches and strategies for broadening service design practices to address complex health equity issues affecting diverse, low income communities.
Key Insights
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Community involvement is crucial for designing culturally resonant health interventions.
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Equitable compensation for community members enhances participation and value recognition.
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Building trust with underserved communities requires ongoing engagement and responsive practices.
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Using local, trusted messengers is key to effective outreach and communication.
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Flexibility in design processes accommodates community feedback and can improve project outcomes.
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Clear communication and reducing jargon facilitate better collaboration with non-designers.
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Prototyping at low fidelity encourages community feedback and reduces intimidation.
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Assessing organizational capacity early in collaboration optimizes project execution.
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Community-centered design fosters sustainable partnerships and long-term impact.
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Embedding health literacy initiatives across programs reinforces systemic change.
Notable Quotes
"Our project was supported by key enablers at all levels from federal to local."
"We view our budget as a moral document."
"The community members are experts in their own lived experience."
"The more participatory it practices, the deeper and more intentional the engagement needs to be."
"By putting our money where our mouths were, we honored and valued lived experience."
"Each phase of engagement can and will shift even the most thoughtfully laid out plans."
"The participation must be accessible, sustainable, and irresistible."
"Offer equitable payments and whenever possible, feed the people."
"Nurture long-term partnerships with trusted messengers."
"Hire locally, preferably team members with lived experience."
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