Addressing Differential Impacts of Covid-19 in NYS: Selecting and Training Contact Tracers to Address Minority Health Disparities: Lessons from COVID-19

Abstract

Like most public health emergencies, COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted minority communities and exacerbated pre-existing health disparities (Hooper et al., 2020; Selden & Berdahl, 2020). Consequently, state and local governments had to rapidly hire, train, and send forth an “army” of contact tracers to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. However, not much was known about the individual characteristics required to perform this critical job effectively, particularly in a way that ensured equal treatment of all individuals and effective contact with minority communities. Randall et al. (2021) and Dalal et al. (2021) showed that well selected and trained contact tracers, and trust and knowledge about the contact tracing role are critical aspects of contact tracing compliance among minority individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on theories from personnel psychology (e.g., Guion, 2011), we present a blueprint to extend this work by presenting a comprehensive picture of procedures to efficiently, fairly, and validly select and train contact tracers to address future public health crises, and to effectively work within minority communities. Future steps to develop selection and training systems are also identified to facilitate the establishment of a contact tracing personnel system and to expand these procedures to other public-facing health support positions. Being more proactive in preparing public health personnel to work more effectively in minority communities should increase preparation for future health crises and contribute to the elimination of minority health disparities.