LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The city of Lubbock is receiving more than $122,000 from the CDC Foundation’s Measles Communities Grant Fund, a program created to assist communities affected by measles outbreaks.
Public Health Director Katherine Wells said the foundation reached out to the city following Lubbock’s measles outbreak earlier this year.
“After the measles outbreak and us being on the news and people hearing about the public health system out here in West Texas, the foundation was actually interested in what they could do to help us,” Wells said. “They approached us about six or seven months ago and really asked me like if I could have funding, what kind of funding would I like what we’d like to do to improve health in Lubbock.”
How the funding will be used
The city of Lubbock is receiving more than $122,000 from the CDC Foundation’s Measles Communities Grant Fund, a program created to assist communities affected by measles outbreaks.(KCBD Video)
The grant will fund one new community health worker position trained to connect Lubbock residents with health and social services. Wells said the flexibility of the role is a key benefit.
“I have community health workers that have to work on substance use disorders. I have ones that have to work on HIV care. I don’t have anybody that can work wherever we need them,” Wells said. “So I’m really excited to have that flexibility with a new staff person.”
In March and April, eight confirmed measles cases at a Lubbock child care facility strained health department resources.
Wells said her broader vision is to build a network of community members trained to guide residents to health services.
“Our health department’s a place that they can call and if we can’t provide those services, we really want to be a place that can give referrals and information out to the community,” Wells said.
Next steps
The grant funding covers a two-year period. The Lubbock City Council must still approve the contract. The grant is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
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