Boulder County seeking residents to be part of COVID-19 Community Task Force

Daily Times-Call - 7/22/2020

Jul. 22--With Boulder County Public Health data showing the coronavirus pandemic taking a disproportionate toll on parts of its population, the county is seeking a diverse task force to help inform potential policy and program decisions.

The COVID-19 Community Task Force will be made up of 11 people "most impacted by the pandemic" and "incorporate their input and advice into existing future strategies and actions," according to an online county description. People encouraged to apply include Latinx, Chicano, Indigenous, Black, LGBTQIA+, the elderly and people with disabilities, to name a few.

"We want to make sure that we hear their voices to understand how they are being impacted," said Garry Sanfaçon, the co-recovery manager for the county's coronavirus recovery response effort, called Forward Together Safely. "What we are really striving for is everyday residents. We want folks impacted by the pandemic and their stories, (to tell us) what's working, what's not working and what are the challenges?"

In addition to sharing their everyday experiences, members of the task force will also review and provide input on strategies and polices and serve as a liaison between officials and the community, the website read.

Those involved will share this feedback through virtual meetings, which will primarily take place in the evenings Wednesdays, starting Aug. 19 and running through April 2021. Those selected will be offered a $30 per hour stipend for up to $2,700. The county will also offer language translation services, and Sanfaçon said county officials encourage those who speak a language other than English to make their voices heard.

Sanfaçon said county data shows that the virus has taken a disproportionate toll on a number of community members, including the elderly, people without homes and the Hispanic and Latinx community.

County data, for example, shows that while 14% of Boulder County's population is Hispanic or Latinx, 37% of the county's cases and 45% of its hospitalizations are in members of that community, according to Boulder County Public Health data. A track of age groups infected by the virus, shows that those who are 70 and older have experienced the most deaths of any age group, according to county data.

Through the task force, Sanfaçon said the county hopes to better assess how to help those most impacted in the wake of the pandemic.

"The county's role will be as listeners and to understand how everyday residents, especially the ones being disproportionately impacted, (what) their stories (are)," Sanfaçon said. "(The task force) is not a decision-making body ... it's more of an informal, really engagement and outreach opportunity so that we can build two-way relationships with community members."

The deadline to apply for the task force is Aug. 5. Those interested in applying must answer four questions and submit their responses to Sanfaçon at gsanfacon@bouldercounty.org. The questions can be found online by visiting the county's website at bouldercounty.org and then searching COVID-19 Community Task Force.

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