Rose ClementsWith the onset of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the world has been forever changed. This pandemic will impact our lives in ways we don’t yet fully understand. But rather than succumb to devastation and apathy, Conservation Legacy has met this new challenge as we always have—head on, ready to pivot our programming and readjust to face a new reality in the spirit of service and solidarity.
During the final weekend in May, just a few months after COVID-19 was officially declared a global pandemic, Conservation Legacy received funding from The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to join a massive contact tracing effort in Colorado in response to the crisis. CNCS provided nearly $2 million to support the tremendous collaborative effort between nonprofit advocates, state and governmental agencies, hospitals, and university organizations. Once funding was secured, staff jumped into action. Word came of CNCS’ support over Memorial Day weekend, and the rush to begin hiring tracers and additional support staff began even before the work week started. After an incredible effort including reviewing more than a thousand applications, and with assistance from partnerships with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Colorado Community Resource Center and others, Conservation Legacy’s first group of contact tracers was up and running by the third week of June.
This program is unlike anything Conservation Legacy has ever attempted. We had to literally construct the program as we implemented it.
Conservation Legacy and its Stewards Individual Placement Program mobilized more than 130 contact tracers as part of the vital effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Contact tracers served ‘summer associate’ terms of service of either 8, 9, or 10 weeks as part of the AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) program. Collectively referred to as VISTA Summer Associates or VSA’s, each participant received a laptop as well as hotspot device if necessary to facilitate remote internet access, provided by Gary Community Investments. Appropriate accommodations were made for differently abled participants. Throughout its run, the contact tracing cohort collectively made over three thousand calls. “This program is unlike anything Conservation Legacy has ever attempted. We had to literally construct the program as we implemented it,” remarked Joel García, a Recruitment Program Manager for the contact tracing effort. Previously, García was the Recruitment and AmeriCorps Director for Conservation Legacy’s Arizona Conservation Corps. García and eleven additional staff members were hired to help support the contact tracing program, all of whom were either former Conservation Legacy staff or program participants who returned to the organization to answer the call to action. The ability to contribute to crucial relief work from the safety of home was a big draw for staff and participants alike, including for García. As someone with a comorbidity that puts him at high risk, he found that his opportunities for work during the pandemic were very limited. “As we learn more about the pandemic, and the genetic or ethnic connection…as a Latino there’s some fear there for me. I was attracted to this position because I could work from my home. That’s a luxury that many folks don’t have.”
The uptick in positive case results in Colorado stressed the timeliness of contact tracing to slow the spread of the virus. This urgency required Conservation Legacy staff to learn and implement new platforms on the fly, collaborate with numerous partnering organizations, coordinate a diverse cohort of members from all over the country, and be innovative, creative, and highly efficient through it all. The same flexibility and intentionality was also the core of contact tracing. VSA’s acted as ‘disease detectives’ who identified sources of potential outbreaks and offered resources and support, including instructions for self-isolation. Calls included connecting with the ‘case’—individual who has tested positive—and working with them to determine and reach out to their ‘contacts’—anyone they have been within six feet of for more than fifteen minutes since symptoms arose and for two days prior.
Contact tracing is a cornerstone of the public health toolbox to mitigate the spread of disease. “When making contact tracing calls, I recognize that each person I talk to is from a different background, potentially facing many challenges during this pandemic, and experiencing their own set of emotions,” reflected 21 year old Avery Muniz, a contact tracer from Parker, CO who identifies as Mexican-American and made over 65 contact tracing calls during her service term. The position requires sensitivity and empathy. Calls can be difficult at times, but Muniz wasn’t swayed by that challenge. She drew from her lived experience and bilingual capability when making calls. “It is extremely useful to know both Spanish and English as a contact tracer given the large population of Spanish speakers in Colorado,” she explained, emphasizing that it gave her the ability to quickly build trust and rapport with her Spanish-speaking contacts. “It makes calls a lot easier when someone unexpectedly answers ‘bueno’ instead of ‘hello’,” she said. Muniz even developed scripts for calls and follow-up emails in Spanish to benefit other Spanish-speaking contact tracers and help increase access for the Spanish-speaking community.
Conservation Legacy took great pride in the diversity of the VSA cohort, recognizing it as an invaluable asset when addressing a public health crisis. VSA’s ranged in age from 18 to 77. While many were based in Colorado, the cohort was truly spread out across the country: from San Francisco and Pittsburgh to Boston and Traverse City. Some VSA’s had backgrounds in public health or nursing, some were fresh out of high school, some had never made a cold call before. Despite the lack of physical connection, breadth of personal experience, and range in age, the sense of community felt within the cohort was something many contact tracers emphasized. “When the pandemic hit, I lost not only my job, but my entire industry,” reflected Stacy Kopper, a 59-year-old VSA based in Wyoming. Before COVID-19, Kopper spent more than 180 days out of the year on the road as a freelance travel director and meeting planner. During her service term, she described herself as ‘housing insecure’, and made contact tracing calls from the hotel room she resided in. “This experience…was invigorating,” she said. “The energy and ability to pivot and embrace new technologies and changes by all the participants…was really eye opening and life affirming. I admit I spent March through May wanting my old life back. [This position] ultimately brought back a sense of community which I haven’t had in quite some time.”
The country is hurting and people are scared…This has been one clear way that we can apply ourselves and our programming to respond to the needs of our country.
The development of the contact tracing program took a lot of teamwork and grace according to April Elkins-Badtke, director of Conservation Legacy’s Stewards Individual Placement Program, which spearheaded the contact tracing effort for the organization. While hanging up the AmeriCorps pledge in her office recently, Elkins-Badtke was struck by a realization that brought all the tireless hours she put into the program into perspective. “I’ve always believed in the AmeriCorps pledge and what it stands for, but for the first time, I’ve been able to really feel it,” she said. “I can see that we have absolutely answered the call to action put forth by the pledge. “In the face of adversity, I will persevere…When faced with apathy, I will take action…” The country is hurting and people are scared…this has been one clear way that we can apply ourselves and our programming to respond to the needs of our country.” Positive coronavirus cases are down in Colorado since contact tracing work began. As the world adapts to life during the virus, Conservation Legacy participants and staff alike will continue to stand ready to respond to the needs of their communities and to selflessly offer their service for the benefit of all.
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Check out the highlights below to meet a few of our incredible contact tracers!
“I am an Asian-American plant enthusiast! As a contact tracer, I really try to remember that people are just people. It’s not my place to assume everyone is dealing with this the same way, or to believe that I know more than the people I am calling. Normally, the people I reach out to know what’s best for their situation, since they are the ones dealing with it. The best thing I can do is give them the information they need to be able to help make that decision, and help them feel supported.”
“One aspect of my identity that is important to me is that I am Southern Ute. My tribe is located in Ignacio, CO. What I think I will remember most about this experience is having it be the beginning of my education in public health. In just a few days, I will begin my masters in public health program, where in all likelihood, I will be given opportunities to study and learn more about the pandemic in a more informed setting. Essentially, I’m starting my studies in public health during a once in a lifetime public health event.”
“While it does not define my identity, my experiences with Crohn’s disease—a chronic illness—shape my daily actions and instill a passion for health equity, public health, and patient agency and advocacy. As someone who is highly immunocompromised, my life during the pandemic looks very different. The pandemic offers an opportunity to support friends, family, and community in small ways that make a huge impact. Health is a human right and everyone should have equal opportunity towards it.”
“I am 24 years old and an evacuated volunteer from Peace Corps Thailand due to COVID 19. I joined the contact tracing program because after evacuation a lot of aspects in my life were up in the air. I had lost my job and home in Thailand, and returning to the U.S. without a job and stable housing during a global pandemic was terrifying. Contact tracing allowed me to have a job that did not put my family at risk, while also allowing me to give back and assist my communities and our nation during a frightening time. I hope from the pandemic our nation learns the importance of looking out for each other and doing what we can to help and protect our neighbors and fellow humans.”
“When COVID began to get bad in Colorado and across the country, Americans were asked to do one thing to protect others: stay home. I did that and went months without leaving my home or interacting with people outside of my immediate family. But I felt like this wasn’t enough. I wanted to do more to help others. When I heard a news story about the governor’s plan to gather a team of contact tracers for the state I immediately wanted to join as a means of supporting my community and my state during a difficult time.”
“I am passionate about creating equitable healthcare, regardless of immigration status. I’m proud to represent the Latino/Hispanic community here in Colorado, and to be Puerto Rican! I joined this program for two main reasons. The first was to gain experience in the public health field as I began my Masters. The second, greater reason was to be on the right side of history. I wanted to be able to look back at this crazy year and know I did all I could to help.”
“I still find it so hard to believe we have lost 170,000 lives to this virus. In my small way, I want to believe I did what I could to turn the tide. And getting to know so many other folks who want to do the same thing is so inspiring, this group has such a varied diverse makeup and we step up and help each other out in an instant. It is awesome. Whether it’s COVID, counseling, education, or pounding the pavement for a cause I have yet to identify, I’ll be there, ready to serve. And this experience will never leave me. It has provided more tools and resources than I imagined it would. For all this I feel humbled and grateful.”