California COVID-19 Consortium

Community-based organizations (CBOs) played a critical role in supporting racially and ethnically diverse communities facing disproportionate impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The California COVID-19 Consortium documents how CBOs across the state responded to urgent social, economic, and health needs—often stepping in where public systems fell short. Developed in partnership with ChangeLab Solutions and the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, and informed by contributions from 21 community-rooted organizations, this project centers the experiences and leadership of CBOs serving Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other racially and ethnically diverse communities. This project runs from July 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021.  

The purpose of this work is to strengthen public–community partnerships by lifting up lessons from the pandemic and translating them into actionable policy and practice recommendations. Through in-depth interviews with CBOs, the project examines how organizations adapted service delivery, stayed connected with residents, and addressed critical needs—including mental health, housing stability, and food security—under rapidly changing conditions. The findings highlight both the structural barriers CBOs faced and the innovative, community-driven strategies that supported residents during the pandemic. This work contributes to more equitable recovery efforts by offering concrete guidance on how governments can partner more effectively with community organizations to meet community needs and sustain trust over time. 

Primary activities:

• Co-developing an interview guide to engage community-based organizations on pandemic impacts, community needs, and strategies for resident engagement and policy influence.

• Conducting in-depth interviews with 21 community-based organizations and community clinics across California to understand how they pivoted to deliver essential supports and remain responsive to community priorities.

• Analyzing interview recordings and notes to identify cross-cutting themes, shared challenges, innovative practices, and priorities for an equitable recovery.

• Synthesizing findings into the policy report How California’s Community-Based Organizations Filled the Gaps for Underserved Communities: Meeting the Needs of Racially & Ethnically Diverse Communities During the Pandemic.

• Developing policy and practice recommendations that outline how local and state governments can better partner with community-rooted organizations.