Giving Compass' Take:

• Danielle Kwon, writing for Urban Institute, discusses ways that officials, individuals, and communities can confront racism and support Asian-Americans.  

• What role can donors play in combatting discrimination against Asian American communities due to COVID-19?

• Read about the social isolation of Asian American seniors.

  • Use language supported by scientists and public health officials when referring to COVID-19 WHO specifically instructs people outside of the scientific community to avoid using geographic locations in disease names. Best practices, like in the case of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease of 2019), include incorporating the pathogen in the disease name.
  • Disseminate accurate and accessible COVID-19 information to the public WHO has warned against the large amount of misinformation circulating related to COVID-19. Public officials should promote evidence-based best practices for preventing transmission of COVID-19, such as handwashing and keeping a safe distance, and avoid stigmatizing language or fearmongering.
  • Denounce rising discrimination and hate crimes against Asian Americans Civil rights and racial justice organizations have issued a joint call to action denouncing the increase in discrimination against Asian Americans related to COVID-19, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus drafted a letter urging public officials to help prevent the spread of misinformation that can increase public anxiety and incite violence amid a public health crisis.
  • Enact policies that support vulnerable workers and small businesses through the crisis Last week, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which took important first steps to make testing for COVID-19 available at no cost for people who are insured and to require employers to provide paid sick leave to employees with some exceptions.
  • Expand community outreach for federal safety net programs The Families First Coronavirus Response Act also increased federal funding for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
  • Provide resources for people affected by hate crimes and other acts of discrimination As hate crimes and other acts of discrimination increase in the wake of COVID-19, public officials can support Asian American communities by providing resources that are harder for nongovernmental organizations to provide, such as access to mental health care for those affected.

Read the full article about supporting Asian American communities in the wake of COVID-19 by Danielle Kwon at Urban Institute.