Evaluation of Cook County Department of Public Health's COVID-19 Worker Protection Program

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) developed the Worker Protection Program (WPP) in partnership with the Raise the Floor Alliance of Worker Centers (RTF). We present a multi-method qualitative process evaluation of the program with reports from participating worker centers over an 8-month period. Our findings showcase the creation of a program to 1) identify and elevate workplace COVID-19-related complaints to CCDPH, with the potential for long-term co-production of enforcement of health and safety laws; and 2) further COVID-19-related prevention and mitigation activities by providing trainings to 4,700 + participants, conducting outreach to 800 + employers, distributing PPE at 2,500 + worksites, and providing individual referrals for unemployment, food and housing insecurity, legal, and healthcare services. This evaluation highlights the collaborative strategy of the WPP to reach worksites and workers at highest risk of COVID-19, while also identifying persistent barriers to COVID-19 prevention and mitigation.