Advancing healthcare for COVID-19 in Ontario: Strengthening providers' capacity for best practices in African, Caribbean and Black community service provision

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented challenge for healthcare systems across the world. African, Caribbean and Black communities (ACB) include some of the most vulnerable populations in terms of their susceptibility to COVID-19 and their access and receipt of necessary and appropriate health care. The goal of this study is to improve the health system's response to COVID-19 by minimizing its spread and consequences in ACB communities. Specific objectives are to: 1) Engage ACB communities and health provider stakeholders in research and decision-making processes 2) Examine the contextual vulnerability and challenges experienced by ACB communities 3) Identify the adequacy and non-intended consequences of current health care practices on ACB communities 4) Increase individual, community and organizational capacity and leadership and generate strategies to address COVID-19 related-health outcomes, and 5) Share new knowledge and support its translation into policy and practice models to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on ACB communities. The project will take place in four phases in two sites in Ontario (Toronto and Ottawa). A local advisory group will ensure consistent community engagement and capacity building. Our research team is comprised of influential and committed researchers, community leaders, healthcare providers and knowledge users from diverse backgrounds and disciplines across Ontario. The expected impacts of the proposed research that will be felt locally and globally by strengthening ACB community responses to COVID-19, identifying evidence-based interventions to strengthen the health system's capacity to care for ACB members, and generating knowledge to reduce COVID-19-related health inequities in ACB communities.