Ripple Effects Mapping Shows Success of Science-Community Partnership to Fight COVID-19

Ripple Effects Mapping Shows Success of Science-Community Partnership to Fight COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic did not affect everyone equally. Communities of color, particularly Latinos (including undocumented people), Black and Native American groups, and low-income people, experienced much higher rates of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Research has shown that several key factors worsened health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overcrowded housing, dense neighborhoods and location played an important role in the spread of the virus. Systemic racism, discrimination and job instability made some communities even more vulnerable.

A new report published inHealth expectationshighlights how the Share, Trust, Organize, Partner COVID-19 California Alliance, known as STOP COVID-19 CA, has helped address these challenges. Established in 2020 as part of the federal pandemic response, the network brought together 11 universities, including the University of California, Riverside, and more than 75 community organizations in 14 counties. Together, they focused on reaching communities most affected by COVID-19, increasing access to reliable information, testing and vaccinations, while laying the foundation for long-term health equity.

“Our review examines how a statewide network helped strengthen partnerships between communities and researchers so they could work together to address health disparities in underserved communities during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ann Cheney, lead author of the report and professor of social medicine, population and public health at UC Riverside School of Medicine.

What set this network apart was its community-first approach. Local organizations and grassroots leaders not only participated; they led.”

Ann Cheney, University of California-Riverside

From designing research questions to collecting data to writing reports, community partners contributed every step of the way, helping to ensure the work was grounded in real community needs and sociocultural and economic contexts and not driven solely by academic theory.

Between August 2020 and December 2021, STOP COVID-19 CA surveyed more than 11,000 Californians, conducted dozens of focus groups, participated in clinical trials, and organized hundreds of events – from town halls to vaccination clinics. Community health workers, called promotoras, helped design and deliver health information in a way that was consistent with local culture and language.

Cheney explained that in 2024, the network used a participatory and community-based assessment method called Ripple Effects Mapping to better understand the impact of the network. The methodology showed that the network not only improved efforts to combat COVID-19, but also strengthened relationships between community and academic partners, improved communication, and built lasting capabilities for future collaboration.

“Our report also points to larger lessons,” Cheney said. "While the network made significant progress, participants noted that broader changes are needed, particularly in how universities engage with community groups and how funding is shared. Ultimately, STOP COVID-19 CA demonstrated that when communities are respected as leaders and equal partners, outcomes are more effective and sustainable."

The report noted that the network has not only helped communities respond to an emergency, but has also begun to transform public health responses to better serve those most affected by inequality. According to the report, STOP COVID-19 CA remains a model for how researchers and communities can work together to advance health equity.

“By combining academic expertise with local knowledge and leadership, the network has shown what is possible when collaboration is based on trust, respect and shared goals,” said Cheney. "The network not only helped address urgent needs like COVID-19 testing and vaccines, but also laid the foundation for lasting change to support continued community participation in health equity research. It stands as a model for how diverse communities - across cultures, languages ​​and regions - can work together with researchers to address health disparities."

Cheney's co-authors of the report are academic partners at UCR and UC San Diego, as well as community partners at Conchita Servicios de la Comunidad in Mecca, California, and the Global Action Research Center in San Diego.

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