Report Publish Date: March 2021

This report summarizes the pandemic response of nine U.S. communities tracked by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the pandemic's impacts on children, families, and health equity in those communities. 

Primary Takeaways

The authors found that:

• While the pandemic had negative effects for children and families across the board in every community, low-income families, families of color, and families facing language and cultural barriers were disproportionately affected by COVID-19 compared to other types of families.
• Communities had to balance responses to COVID-19's health and economic effects. Some communities aimed to reduce inequities, while others did not. And the need among children and families “far outpaces the response,” the authors wrote.
• Community organizations responded to children and families’ needs by shifting their services to focus on day-to-day priorities.  

Overview and Objectives

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation began tracking response and recovery in nine communities that were part of its Sentinel Communities Project: Finney County, Kan.; Harris County, Texas; Milwaukee, Wis.; Mobile, Ala.; San Juan County, N.M.; Sanilac County, Mich.; Tacoma, Wash.; Tampa, Fla.; and White Plains, N.Y.  

In this report, the authors wanted to explore the effect communities’ pandemic responses had on children and families. 

Hypothesis or Approach 

The authors collected information available through February 2021. 

How This Influences Change

“Going forward, it is important to monitor the mid- and long-term impacts of the pandemic and response and recovery efforts on children and families,” the authors wrote. “It is particularly crucial to assess effects related to poverty, housing stability, educational achievement, and health concerns—all of which are worsening in many communities.”