DC Vaccine Alliance

Doctor, healthcare worker and medical professional with plaster on arm of sick child after covid va.

DC Vaccine Alliance

The DC Vaccine Alliance, funded by DC Health, builds and sustains a coalition of immunization stakeholders dedicated to promoting vaccination across the District.

The Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) leads the DC Vaccine Alliance through a grant from DC Health. The coalition increases immunization rates and reduces vaccine-preventable diseases in Washington, DC. We bring stakeholders from diverse sectors together to educate healthcare providers and the community about vaccine best practices.

DC Vaccine Alliance priorities include:

Understanding attitudes and perceptions around immunizations and awareness of school vaccination requirements

Strengthening partnerships among immunization advocates to align messaging and outreach efforts

Addressing barriers to vaccination and supporting providers in achieving recommended immunization coverage

Enhancing access to accurate and up-to-date vaccine information through digital resources and community engagement

The Alliance serves as a central hub for immunization initiatives, collaborating with key stakeholders to improve vaccine uptake across all populations.

As a member, you engage through our three committees:

Community Outreach – Builds public awareness and drives education efforts

Advocacy – Strengthens policies that support vaccination efforts

Provider Education – Enhances vaccination services and fosters provider collaboration

If you’re interested in learning more or participating, contact us below or follow us social media:

Resources

To learn more about the DC Vaccine Alliance and how you can contribute to this important initiative, please contact us at [email protected].

CHW Leadership Institute

The Institute for Public Health Innovation invites you to join our Community Health Worker (CHW) Leadership Institute—a program designed to empower experienced and dedicated CHWs. The program will provide the skills and knowledge needed to take on leadership roles and influence community and system change.

The CHW Leadership Institute is a six-month, cohort-based program that equips experienced community health workers to step into leadership roles and drive community and system-level change. Co-designed with CHWs and leadership experts, the Institute piloted in 2025, graduating six professionals who gained confidence, advanced career pathways, and mastered leadership competencies. Building on this success, we are preparing to launch future cohorts beginning in 2026.

BY THE END OF THIS COMPREHENSIVE SIX-MONTH PROGRAM, YOU WILL:

Mastered Leadership Competencies 
Reported Increased Confidence in taking on new leadership roles and responsibilities 
Expanded Career Pathways with a deep understanding of how to apply leadership skills to pursue diverse opportunities

Interested in Joining a Future Cohort?

We are preparing to launch our next cohort in spring 2026. If you would like to receive updates or share your interest in the CHW Leadership Institute, please complete this interest form.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

We will continue to update Frequently Asked Questions as needed. Please review previous questions below to see if your question has been answered.

Will future Leadership Institute cohorts be free?

We hope to subsidize as much as possible; all qualified applicants will have access to scholarships. More details will be shared when the next application launches. .

How much will the Leadership Institute cost to participants?

While final tuition rates are not yet set, we are committed to keeping the program affordable and offering scholarships to ensure access for all qualified CHWs.

How will future Leadership Institute offerings differ from the pilot?

We are considering feedback from participants, facilitators, and reviewing data to determine how to make the program even more impactful for future students! We may make changes to the schedule, length of program, add topics, or adjust features based on the feedback received. The structure of future Leadership Institute cohorts will be shared when applications are open.

What type of information will you ask in the application?

We have not updated the application yet, but you can expect to have to submit two letters of recommendation, and provide proof that you have completed core CHW training.

Do I need to be certified to apply to the CHW Academy Leadership Institute?

No, you do not need to be certified to apply. We know certification is not available in Washington, DC, and many other jurisdictions, and we did not want any otherwise experienced CHW within those jurisdictions to feel they could not apply.   

Do you have questions about the Leadership Institute? Please reach out to [email protected] and indicate “Leadership Institute Question” in the subject.

The Equity Equation

The Equity Equation webinar series examines health equity issues and highlights policy and systems-level solutions in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

Through this series we aim to:

Highlight pressing and emerging public health issues that have significant impact on health equity and racial justice.  
Draw connections between regional health outcomes, health inequities and root causes such as racism, sexism, classism, etc.
Analyze the implications of past, present and/or proposed policies on the health of specific communities or population health in our region.
Identify potential policy and systems strategies that target the social determinants of health and their distribution among communities and populations to reduce inequities.

Upcoming webinars

Please save the date for the webinars listed below! Registration links will be posted as they become available.

Previous webinars

Recordings from past webinars:

“Healthy Planet, Healthy Communities: Public Health at the Intersection of Environmental Justice” April 22, 2025

This webinar featured:

Jeremy Hoffman, PH.D, Groundwork USA
Rebecca Rehr, MPH, Maryland League of Conservation Voters
Walkiria Pool, MA, Centro De Apoyo Familiar

After watching the webinar, please complete this feedback survey.

“Preventing Gun Violence for Healthier Communities” December 5, 2024

This webinar featured:

Joshua Horwitz, JD, from Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions
Nicole Jones from Richmond City Council 9th Distric
Dr. Ram Bhagat, a Founder & Director of Drums No Guns Foundation

After watching the webinars, please complete this feedback survey.

“Power in Policy: Driving Change for Black Maternal Health” April 15, 2024

This webinar featured:

Dr. Tamara Henry, Ed.D., George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health
Angelia Williams Graves of the Virginia Senate, 21st district
Krystal Oriadha from Prince George‘s County Council, District 7

After watching the webinars, please complete this feedback survey.

“The American Life Expectancy Crisis” February 27, 2024

This webinar featured:

Steven Woolf, MD, MPH, Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health
Amy Wentz, Co-Founder of Southside ReLeaf
Councilwoman Cynthia Newbille, PhD, MA, Richmond City Council, 7th District

After watching the webinars, please complete this feedback survey.

Resources/Reading lists

Here are developed reading lists and resources for a deeper dive into the these topics.

Reading List on Life Expectancy

To learn more about The Equity Equation, please contact IPHI training at [email protected].

Collaborative Neurologic Solutions

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Collaborative Neurologic Solutions

Collaborative Neurologic Solutions is a multi-state, community-led response to address the unmet needs of individuals and families impacted by neurologic health conditions.

IPHI collaborates with health and social care-related organizations to improve the quality of life for community members impacted by complex neurologic diseases. The team works to increase access to the resources needed to support community members’ quality of life.

The team works in the following key areas to achieve this vision:

Navigating health and social care systems
Community outreach and engagement
Professional education
Cross-sector collaborations

The team uses innovative, data-driven technology to map available resources for neurological disease communities. This technology reveals gaps in care, identifies organizations capable of implementing solutions, and showcases existing resources. The team gathers real experiences and opinions of people impacted by neurologic health conditions to prioritize and guide the work from design to evaluation.

This work creates equitable systems to maximize existing resources through awareness and directs resources to under-resourced communities and issues.

Scope of work:

Collaborative Neurologic Solutions engages people living with neurological health conditions, care partners, and professionals in Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia to deliver solutions addressing their most urgent needs. The team offers navigation tools, professional training and education, public awareness, and community engagement support.

Explore an example here:

Rural Multiple Sclerosis Solutions

To learn more about the Collaborative Neurologic Solutions project, please contact Senior Program Manager Lauren Ruiz at [email protected] or 202.987.2540.

Contact

Rural Multiple Sclerosis Solutions

Rural Multiple Sclerosis Solutions

Improving access to diagnostic and support resources for rural populations impacted by multiple sclerosis in Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

In 2022, IPHI expanded its focus to include support for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and medical providers in rural areas. This 3-year project is funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation.

Through the project, IPHI and various community partners will:

Create a tool to simplify navigation for people seeking MS resources.
Provide education and training to service providers.
Improve access, delivery, and use of MS care for people living with MS in rural areas.
Increase public awareness about MS, including its risk factors, early signs and symptoms, and treatment options.

Many rural residents impacted by complex, chronic health conditions like MS often do not get the help or social services needed. Rural residents are burdened because services and resources do not exist in the area or are inaccessible due to barriers like transportation, cost, awareness, technology, mistrust, etc. As a result, people living in rural areas can go undiagnosed longer, face misdiagnoses, experience more treatment disruptions, and receive less support to address social determinants of health.

Scope of work:

The IPHI team is focusing on identifying and improving access in rural communities. Through the grant, non-specialty health providers will receive education and training on MS risk factors, early signs and symptoms, treatments, and resources. Rural residents will be engaged through convenings, focus groups, interviews, and community events to increase awareness of MS and connect affected residents to resources. Other activities include collaborating with mobile health units and similar community-based services to reach people where they are.

In partnership with VirginiaNavigator, IPHI will create a network map of health and social support resources in the project’s target area. The team will also establish Navigation Centers where community leaders will be trained on how to use the network map and provide navigation assistance. All activities will be informed by people living with MS, care partners, and community professionals.

The project will focus on these rural communities (collaborations and resources may be state-wide):

Maryland
- Caroline County
- Garrett County
Virginia
- Brunswick County
- Buckingham County
- Charlotte County
- Cumberland County
- Danville
- Henry County
- Louisa County
- Lunenburg County
- Martinsville
- Nottoway County
- Orange County
- Patrick County
- Pittsylvania County
- Prince Edward County

North Carolina
- Caswell County
- Duplin County
- Greene County
- Jones County
- Lenoir County
- Montgomery County
- Surry County
- Wilkes County
West Virginia
- Fayette County
- Marion County
- McDowell County
- Mercer County
- Monroe County
- Preston County
- Raleigh County
- Summers County
- Wetzel County
- Wyoming County

Upcoming Training:

First (1st) Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. EST – Launching January 3, 2024

The West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute (WVCTSI), Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Neurodegenerative Diseases Program focus on diagnosing, managing, and treating MS and other neurological diseases in the primary care setting. This training is offered free of charge to all participants. For more information, visit: here.

Topics Covered

Early Symptoms & Diagnosing MS
Monitoring MS
MS Therapies
Patient-Centered Care
Neurological Diseases

Resources:

Provide input to design an Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) practice model, which aims to increase knowledge and confidence in treating patients with MS and neurodegenerative diseases.

Informing Educational Outreach/Curriculum with the ECHO Needs Assessment

Explore a prototype of the network map that identifies organizations located in or serving residents of Virginia living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, ALS, Huntington’s disease (HD), MS, and Parkinson’s disease.

Health and Social Support Resources for People Most Impacted by Neurodegenerative Disease in Virginia

Learn more about issues affecting rural areas and how to identify counties for intervention.

Identifying Critical Access Rural Counties in MD, NC, VA, and WV for Multiple Sclerosis Education and Care Interventions

Help recruit new collaborators by identifying key service providers and sharing these materials.

Understand the perspectives and priorities of people impacted by MS in rural areas by hearing key insights from a convening hosted in rural Virginia.

Convening Event Summary – Informing the Need

Acknowledgments:

Special thanks to our funders and partners:

Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
Can Do MS
MS Alliance
VirginiaNavigator
West Virginia Clinical & Translational Science Institute

To learn more about Rural MS Solutions Project, please contact Senior Program Manager Lauren Ruiz at [email protected] or 202.987.2540.

Contact

Prince George’s Fresh

Supermarket employee helping a customer to choose

Prince George’s Fresh

Prince George’s Fresh is a pilot fruit and vegetable coupon benefit program designed to increase access to healthy food in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Through a collaborative partnership between IPHI, Giant Food, Amerigroup, Anthem Foundation, and the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Workgroup of the Prince George’s Healthcare Action Coalition, Prince George’s Fresh will increase healthy food access for Prince George’s County residents. The program allows medical professionals at participating health clinics to recommend produce coupons and nutrition education to patients experiencing food insecurity. Prince George’s Fresh is an innovative opportunity to engage cross-sectoral partners in an evidence-based model to address County health disparities and food insecurity. For Prince George’s Fresh fact sheet, click: here.

In fall 2023, Prince George’s Fresh completed an evaluation report on “A Pilot of a Food as Medicine.” To view and download the report, click: here.

To learn more about Prince George’s Fresh, please contact [email protected].

Contact

COVID-19 Response & Recovery

IPHI employees (Fairfax County office) from a birds eye view.

COVID-19 Response & Recovery

In May 2020, Fairfax County Health Department in Virginia turned to IPHI to assist with swiftly building up its workforce capacity to respond to the pandemic (see the Health Department’s initial press release).

Within less than a month, IPHI recruited, employed, and trained 80 new staff on behalf of Fairfax County. By the end of January 2021, IPHI had hired over 640 employees. This new surge workforce included case interviewers, contact interviewers, community health workers, epidemiologists, environmental health specialists, call center staff, wellness specialists, and over 50 response team managers. As the pandemic response shifted to include an emphasis on COVID-19 vaccine access, team members were trained and shifted to support vaccine outreach, education, and provision.

IPHI developed a week-long training program for case and contact interviewers that wrapped around an online, self-guided course offered by Johns Hopkins University. IPHI also created a separate training program for COVID-19 community health workers. IPHI’s curricula ensured new hires had the opportunity to practice what they were learning through interactive, adult learning methods. The IPHI courses were so well-received the health department asked IPHI to include over 250 government employees in the program as well, beyond the IPHI-employed staff. Over the course of its involvement, IPHI has trained well over 1,400 pandemic responders. In March 2021, the National Network of Public Health Institutes published an article on IPHI’s training program.

In the late summer of 2021, it became clear that a second boost in workforce capacity was required to respond to a new surge in COVID-19 cases in Fairfax County and across the Commonwealth of Virginia due to the Delta variant and, later, Omicron. IPHI hired and trained hundreds of additional workers in the fall of 2021 who were deployed to not just Fairfax County Health Department but 22 additional Local Health Districts across Virginia.

IPHI has learned a number of key lessons from this work thus far, including:

Public/private partnerships can provide efficiency and agility to governmental efforts to expand capacity and effectively respond to public health emergencies.
While there is pressure to ramp up quickly, governments and their partners should invest in sufficient upfront training to improve performance and staff satisfaction.
Community health workers have a vital role to play in emergency response.

“IPHI is an essential partner in the Health Department’s efforts to contain COVID-19 in Fairfax County. Recruiting, employing and training hundreds of staff in just a few short months was no small feat. Due to the critical support and capacity IPHI provided, we were able to focus on our role leading the Emergency Response.”
— Gloria Addo-Ayensu, MD, MPH, Director of Health for Fairfax County

To learn more about IPHI’s COVID-19 response and recovery, please contact Senior Director Carolyn Padovano at [email protected].

Contact

DC Healthy Housing Collaborative

DC HEALTHY HOUSING COLLABORATIVE

The District of Columbia Healthy Housing Collaborative (DCHHC) is a multi-sector coalition addressing substandard housing conditions that contribute to significant health issues affecting District of Columbia residents.

The DC Healthy Housing Collaborative (DCHHC) is a coalition of various organizations working together to improve the health of the District of Columbia (DC) residents by making sure their homes are safe and free of harmful exposures such as pests, mold, and lead.

Any home can have such problems, but houses in poor neighborhoods are far more likely to have chronic issues. In D.C., race, income, and neighborhood too often predict the potential for poor housing conditions that can lead to serious health problems. The DC Healthy Housing Collaborative (DCHHC) helps individuals and families take the steps needed to keep their homes safe.

IPHI serves as a backbone organization to help provide infrastructure and administrative support (including financial and grants management, human resources, communications, etc.), which allows the teams to concentrate on specific missions as service providers or mining resources for their audience.

To stay updated with the DCHHC’s monthly meetings, updates, and newsletters, click: here.

To learn more about the DC Healthy Housing Collaborative, please contact Program Director Abby Charles at [email protected] or visit: www.dchealthyhousingcollaborative.org.

Contact

Website

ImmunizeVA

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IMMUNIZEVA

Immunize Virginia is a statewide coalition of immunization stakeholders representing medical, public health, nonprofit professionals, parents, and community leaders in Virginia.

Our diverse membership is united in its commitment to the coalition’s vision of a future where the quality and length of life of Virginians are not impacted by a disease that could have been prevented by immunizations.

Together, members work to improve immunization coverage across the Commonwealth in four key areas:

Advocacy
Education
Professional Education
Quality Management

Since it was established in 2020, the coalition has supported the implementation of vaccine clinics in historically under-vaccinated communities, launched social media campaigns to spread awareness about pressing vaccine issues, supported education initiatives surrounding immunization legislation, facilitated numerous presentations for medical and public health professionals on immunizations, and collected timely data on pressing vaccine issues. IPHI serves as the backbone support for ImmunizeVA.

To learn more about ImmunizeVA, please contact [email protected] or visit: immunizevirginia.org.

ImmunizeVA Newsletter

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