Context

As COVID-19 spread across Oregon, timely and accurate public health information was critical—especially for vulnerable and under-resourced communities. However, rapidly evolving guidance, misinformation, and language barriers created challenges in reaching those most at risk. The State of Oregon aimed to build a statewide technical assistance program to strengthen messaging and ensure equitable access to vital health resources.

Approach

In April 2020, Interplay joined the initiative to develop Safe + Strong, a technical assistance program and awareness campaign to develop communication tools, provide public health guidance, and equip community leaders and outreach staff to better serve their communities. Through our social impact strategy, we fostered strong partnerships, ensured messaging was culturally responsive, and supported frontline organizations in delivering timely, accurate, and accessible public health information.

Overall, the program supported over 500 community-based organizations statewide, producing more than 15,000 communication materials in 15 languages to ensure Oregonians had access to accurate and reliable public health information as they navigated the height of the pandemic.

Responsibilities

• Redesigned community engagement strategies to empower local community leaders as trusted messengers of rapidly evolving COVID-19 information.

• Offered tailored one-on-one consultations to community-based organizations, assessing their unique needs and providing targeted support for effective outreach. This included messaging guidance, resource development, and strategic planning to ensure accurate and culturally relevant information reached vulnerable and under-resourced communities.