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News

TLC Receives Grant to Support COVID Vaccine Education and Outreach

May 03, 2021

The Learning Center for the Deaf (TLC) has received a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) to support its COVID-19 Vaccine Education Campaign.

The Vaccine Equity Initiative was created by DPH -- and then contracted to local nonprofit Health Care For All (HCFA) -- to support a tailored community-based approach around the individual needs identified by each municipality. Part of this outreach includes identifying gaps and mapping available resources to reduce barriers to vaccination in 20 identified cities and towns most disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

As a Vaccine Education Campaign Partner, The Learning Center for the Deaf will collaborate with HCFA to support activities related to a vaccination awareness and outreach campaign, including, but not limited to:

  • Public awareness campaigns;
  • Design and distribution of materials in multiple languages, including American Sign Language; 
  • Outreach to the broader deaf and hard of hearing communities;
  • Educational marketing through emails, in-person events (where it is safe to do so) and social media;
  • Sharing of information about the COVID-10 vaccine and/or promote vaccine clinics in the area, and/or help people sign up for those clinics; 

Founded in 1985, HCFA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) whose mission is to advocate for health justice in Massachusetts by working to promote health equity and ensure coverage and access. 

The Vaccine Equity Initiative is a collaborative project with various key stakeholders, including local Boards of Health, local community and faith-based organizations, community health centers, and community health workers who can support grassroots outreach.