COVID-19: Articles of Interest | Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis
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​Articles of Interest

Community & Policy Resources


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Brown School Library Collections

The Brown School Library has created two resource collections specific to COVID-19

  • COVID-19 Information Resources is a collection of vetted, evidence-based information resources curated by Public Health Librarians as well as search guidance people can use on their own.
  • Digital Resources include academic publications that are freely available to students and instructors during this crisis. Also included is St. Louis public library information, which may be of interest during this time. Our public libraries offer a lot of online movies, TV shows, books and magazines of all ages.

Community Resources

  • Brown School Open Classroom: While many are working remotely, the Brown School is assembling a list f free, online professional development webinars and resources that are broadly applicable to the fields of social work, public health, and social policy.  You can access this list here. If​ you have a suggestion of your favorite free, evidence-supported educational resource that we might also include, please email us at profdev@brownschool.wustl.edu.
  • Focus-19 Data Resource: Created by the Brown School's Health Communication Research Laboratory under Professor Matt Kreuter, Focus-19 reports on the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is powered by 2-1-1 helplines, the nation’s top surveillance system for social needs like housing, food, utility bills, transportation, child care and health care. Every day, 2-1-1 responds to nearly 40,000 calls for help, carefully tracking each need. Focus-19 and 211Counts.org scan these data hour by hour to identify rising needs in communities across the U.S. The goal is to give local leaders strong evidence to act quickly and help American families.
  • CHEP Policy Brief: High Levels of Social Distancing Lower the Projected Impact of COVID-19 in Missouri: Produced by the university's Center for Health Economics and Policy, and Brown School faculty, this brief describe the potential effects of different levels of social distancing on COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and death reates in Missouri. Researchers used an epidemiological model adjusted for population density and age distribution in each county to projects outcomes over a six-month period. 
  • Our Inequity and COVID-19 page offers a large list of economic, social, nutrition, housing and other social resources. 


Participation in the Policy Process

The Brown School community (faculty, staff, students, community partners, alumni) are deeply engaged in the response to COVID-19 through direct service, research, and policy practice. Involvement at the local, state and federal levels is critical for informing and influencing government decision-making processes to advance the interests and needs of our communities.

We are glad to suggest a few resources for members of our community and beyond who are interested in how the fields of social work, public health, and social policy work to influence change.

Relevant Policy Briefs

  • CHEP Policy Brief: High Levels of Social Distancing Lower the Projected Impact of COVID-19 in Missouri: Produced by the university's Center for Health Economics and Policy, and Brown School faculty, this brief describes the potential effects of different levels of social distancing on COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and death rates in Missouri. Researchers used an epidemiological model adjusted for population density and age distribution in each county to projects outcomes over a six-month period. 

Course Highlights: Policymaking Advocacy, and Analysis in the U.S. Legislative System

External Resources

Peer-Reviewed Articles