全球智库信息集成服务系统

• Organizations relied on information from a variety of sources when developing their pandemic response plans, including national and international health–related organizations, state and local public health agencies, and internal expertise.
• Most providers have shifted to providing virtual services, including video- and telephone-based care. Community-based work has continued, when essential, with additional safety protocols (e.g., use of personal protective equipment, staggered shifts).
• Facilitators (i.e., facilitating factors) of continued services included available technology, additional funding, proactive organizational leadership, dedicated staff, and organizational flexibility.
• Barriers to providing services included a lack of technology access among clients, reductions in revenue and workforce, difficulties having clients maintain shelter-in-place procedures, and additional stressors on staff.
• COVID-19 has the potential to disproportionately affect individuals experiencing or at risk for homelessness, or who are involved with the criminal justice system. These individuals might have decreased access to services, more adverse economic and behavioral health outcomes, more difficulty determining what is accurate information, and an increased exposure risk.
• When creating plans to guide providers' responses to future phases of the pandemic, providers could consider ways to increase client access technology, measure and address inequities, and leverage increased policy flexibility to speed access to services. Supporting staff well-being and health is also critical.

The speed and scale of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted the social safety net in the United States. This includes social services organizations that support both individuals currently experiencing or at risk of homelessness and those involved with the criminal justice system.

The authors of this report conducted semistructured interviews with representatives from social services organizations in Los Angeles County. These interviews assessed how these service providers are responding to COVID-19. The interviews also uncovered lessons learned and innovative strategies for dealing with the pandemic that could be more broadly disseminated. The authors recount these interviews and lessons learned, and provide recommendations for social services organizations.

• Chapter One

  Background

• Chapter Two

  Method

• Chapter Three

  Results

• Chapter Four

  Discussion