SALEM — The city’s newest outreach team has started working to help residents access important health-related resources and COVID-19 vaccines.
“The COVID Neighborhood Ambassadors program is a natural outgrowth of Salem Together, the city’s program that connected volunteers and those in need early in the pandemic, and provided access to critical support services and resources,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll. “Salem is resilient and, while we have weathered a challenging year, we’re stronger because we pulled together and supported one another. Our COVID Neighborhood Ambassadors are an extension of that commitment to each other.”
The first of the COVID Neighborhood Ambassadors, part of a program announced last month, began knocking on doors on Thursday, according to program coordinator Ben Shallop.
“The best people to reach their neighbors about any subject — period — are people in their neighborhood,” Shallop said. “It’s been a difficult year, and beyond the health ramifications, it’s been financially devastating to many families. Now, with the stimulus package, there’s going to be resources available, but it’s a matter of reaching the people who need it.”
Shallop explained that the city used survey and demographic data to identify the areas in Salem that were less engaged than others and that needed more support. Within those neighborhoods, they sought out volunteers who will receive a small monthly stipend to help develop an outreach plan that works for each individual group of residents.
“It takes into account the types of properties, local businesses and community organizations in the area. We’re taking a holistic approach,” Shallop said. “It’s kind of like throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks.”
Ambassadors will help their neighbors access a variety of services beyond vaccines, including housing assistance, food, and job placement and training.
Shallop said that, as they begin their effort to help residents access vaccines, they want to focus less on convincing people that vaccines are necessary and more on helping those who want them get to a clinic. While it is much easier now to get an appointment than when vaccines were first rolled out, he said many residents still have trouble getting them due to transportation issues or difficulty getting time off from work.
“We’re figuring out what the barriers are, and then figuring out how to get over those barriers,” Shallop said.
Tréa Lavery can be reached at [email protected].
