An Opportunity for Cross-jurisdictional Learning: COVID Response Virtual Learning Cafes

Abstract

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, over 3,000 local health departments (LHDs) in cities and counties across the US were tasked with developing and implementing COVID-19 prevention and response initiatives. While formal trainings and webinars were available, the opportunity for local health departments to informally learn, promote promising practices and strategize around effective COVID-19 response across jurisdictions was limited. Often, cities and counties facing similar challenges in the COVID-19 response were creating solutions independently and in a vacuum, without the benefit of learning from shared experiences. To address this gap, Resolve to Save Lives, as part of its United States COVID-19 Response program, began hosting monthly “COVID-19 Response Virtual Cafés” in October 2020. The cafés were designed for LHD staff to share promising COVID-19 response practices and jointly strategize around common challenges in a non-threatening, collaborative environment. A regularly occurring informal venue for LHDs to candidly discuss and share promising practices has been a valuable addition to health departments’ learning opportunities and ultimately their COVID-19 response. As the pandemic rapidly evolves, opportunities for continued learning and real-time dissemination across jurisdictions play an important role in COVID-19 control.