Updated: 5:35 PM PST January 27, 2021
PORTLAND, Ore. Portland State University is about a month into a new contact tracing and community outreach program, piloted by Latinx student leaders.
While Oregon continues to battle rising COVID-19 cases, professor Roberto Orellana with PSU s School of Social Work has been tracking the disproportionate impact on the state s Latinx community. He said numbers have been grim since day one.
Despite only making up 13% of Oregon s population, Latinx people represented 39% of all coronavirus cases in late summer. That is down to about 27% in recent January counts, but has ranged up to about 40% over the course of the pandemic.
Latino Association gets $75K for COVID relief
Oregon Latinx Leadership Network awarded the grant to assist Central Oregon Latino families
The Latino Community Association will use $75,000 in health equity funds to help Central Oregon families cope with disruptions to income, schooling and health status due to the coronavirus. Oregon Latinx Leadership Network, a statewide group that formed last spring, awarded the grant to LCA in late November.
Latino Community Association Executive Director Brad Porterfield said some of these funds will benefit Jefferson County families.
$5,000 is earmarked for COVID-19 testing, in partnership with Mosaic Medical and other providers. $10,000 will provide headsets for school kids from kindergarten through 12th grade to help minimize distractions and improve their online learning.