Telehealth in a Washington, DC African American Religious Community at the Onset of COVID-19: Showcasing a Virtual Health Ministry Project

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic, with its disproportionate health and social-economic effects on the African American community, mandates bold new models to ensure that vulnerable communities receive maximum support and services. This article highlights a social work practice innovation model adapted from a traditional social work casework model. A group of multidisciplinary leaders strategized about ways to meet the needs of older African-American adults as many traditional government agencies were not sending staff into the community due to COVID-19. The result birthed a faith-based virtual health ministry.

Using a faith-based virtual health ministry, church lay leaders and other professionals partnered with Master of Social Work (MSW) level social workers using a telehealth platform with technology tools to assist shut-in older adults in Washington, DC. The project uses a structured, coordinated care telehealth support model for a marginalized population. Telehealth within the rubric of healthcare models has not been demonstrated in African American communities, particularly older adults. Meeting the needs of shut-in older adults and marginalized groups within the COVID-19 pandemic may show innovation that can be translational for local governments and traditional safety net providers within a social work milieu.

KEYWORDS:

• Social work
• covid-19
• telehealth
• african americans
• health disparities

Acknowledgments

We thank Ms. Deonne Gannt-Bey for her management and direction of the VHM project team. Her leadership, training, and support are responsible for significant parts of this project and its success. A special thank you is extended to Dr. Reed Tuckson and the Black Coalition to Attack COVID −19 (BCAC). BCAC with Rev. Frank Tucker and the Leadership Council for Healthy Communities provided the financial and leadership support for making this project possible. We thank Dean Sandra Crewe at the HUSSW for her support and for giving us this opportunity. Last, we thank all of the clients and persons that have worked with us. It is with them we build community and hold up each other.