Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement
Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE)
EXCITE’s goals are to help rural and other key audiences make informed decisions around vaccinations, strengthen connections between communities and healthcare systems, and support local community partners in implementing programs that increase health outcomes.
University of Idaho Extension has participated in every EXCITE project since its launch in 2021, being awarded competitive and non-competitive grant funds to integrate immunization education into our roles as trusted messengers of reliable, evidence-based information to all Idaho communities.
EXCITE is a nationwide initiative led by U.S. Cooperative Extension and is made possible through an interagency agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture — National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with a cooperative agreement with the Extension Foundation in partnership with the ECOP Health Program Action Team.
Vaccinate with confidence — COVID-19 education
Overwhelming health disparities across the country were highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. EXCITE was enacted to quickly respond to the needs of rural and underserved communities. The immediate goal of this first funded project was to partner with local health providers to expand reliable messaging regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. Despite the COVID-19 vaccine being available at no cost, agricultural, rural and Hispanic communities were experiencing substantial uncertainty and disproportionate barriers to access. Conversations with various vaccine providers in Idaho suggested that these fears stemmed from lack of education surrounding the vaccine and fear of providing personal information to health care workers, in addition to language barriers and access to vaccine sites.
Throughout this effort, UI Extension addressed gaps in education by assisting vaccine providers with outreach, education and bilingual resources. We also shared reliable information and resources while attending local outdoor events with educational activities, engaging in meaningful conversations and answering people’s questions. UI Extension engaged 1,547 Idahoans across 14 counties during the educational campaign. We continue to be part of Hispanic Task Forces, keeping an eye on unmet needs regarding education and opportunities to provide additional support to health partners.
Priority counties included: Canyon, Cassia, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Washington. Partnerships and collaborations included: Idaho Immunization Coalition, Idaho State University College of Pharmacy and South-Central Public Health District.
- Impact statement: PDF
June 2021 — May 2022
- PI: Jackie Amende
- Program manager: Lindsey McConnell-Soong
- Team: Joey Peutz, Mireille Chahine, Mario de Haro Marti, Siew Guan Lee, Bridget Morrisroe, Jang Ho Kim
Vaccinate with confidence — innovative pilot project
In addition to the initial EXCITE educational campaign, UI Extension was awarded funding for an innovative pilot project aimed at decreasing vaccine hesitancy and increasing access and uptake to all adult immunizations.
UI Extension developed a three-step educational model for mobile vaccine clinics, prioritizing outreach to Idaho’s rural Hispanic agricultural workers and their families. Extension staff across five counties partnered with community health teams to coordinate and deliver these customized educational sessions. Twenty mobile vaccine clinics were completed, offering COVID-19, influenza and Tdap immunizations. A total of 341 immunizations were administered, and 622 individuals received reliable, evidence-based information about immunizations and disease prevention. Throughout this project, the Extension team facilitated an on-going relationship between multiple large dairies and the public health department, resulting in increased trust and collaboration on mutual goals for community health.
June 2021 — May 2023
- PI: Jackie Amende/Joey Peutz
- Program manager: Lindsey McConnell-Soong
- Team: Mireille Chahine, Mario de Haro Marti, Siew Guan Lee, Bridget Morrisroe, Jang Ho Kim
Addressing health and wellness
UI Extension expands community health partnerships.
EXCITE — 3
Design phase
In preparation for the EXCITE-3 implementation phase, an 18-month educational campaign focused on adult immunizations for rural and/or medically underserved populations, UI Extension professionals utilized funding to design an upstream approach for educating community health partners. Data shows that 43% of Idahoans did not have an income sufficient for meeting basic survival needs, and healthcare providers often report feeling ineffective in their efforts to educate and engage families experiencing poverty. To address this, the EXCITE team earned certification as poverty coaches and developed workshops to guide health partners in applying poverty-informed strategies to preventive health outreach.
October 2022 — March 2023
- PI: Joey Peutz
- Program manager: Lindsey McConnell-Soong
- Team: Tasha Howard
Implementation phase
The EXCITE team provided 13 poverty competency workshops to 132 employees across two public health districts. Following the workshops, the team continued to engage in coaching and collaboration with program leaders in the health districts to address poverty-related barriers to preventive health behaviors such as immunizations. As a result of these EXCITE-specific trainings, UI Extension received requests from a variety of other community health providers across the state to deliver poverty competency training for their organizations. During this project, Idaho’s EXCITE team partnered with the Idaho Office on Underserved and Rural Medical Research to develop evaluation tools for the impact and effectiveness of the training. View the final report (pdf).
Impact statement: PDF
June 2023 — November 2024
- PI: Tasha Howard
- Program manager: Lindsey McConnell-Soong
- Team: Joey Peutz
EXCITE — Bridge
Partnering with University of Idaho’s student-led Vandal Solutions business team, Extension’s EXCITE team created a short video to educate agricultural workers with families about the importance of the Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) vaccine. This 40-second video was provided to public health departments across Idaho and to all EXCITE teams nationwide for use in their outreach and education efforts. In addition, a variety of Tdap educational materials were developed, customized for audiences working in agriculture and construction, as well as for families with new babies — all of whom are at increased risk of contracting or spreading tetanus and pertussis. These materials are available for download.
April 2024 — March 2025
- PI: Tasha Howard/Joey Peutz
- Program manager: Lindsey McConnell-Soong
Tdap commercial
Tdap commercial in Spanish
Integration phase
The EXCITE integration phase provided funding for EXCITE teams to incorporate vaccine education into existing or emerging programs. Idaho’s team adapted the general poverty competency training previously delivered into a shorter, clinically-focused action planning workshop for immunization teams. The workshop curriculum, complete with evaluation tools, will be available to Extension educators nationwide in addition to continuously being offered to community health partners in Idaho upon request.
September 2024 — August 2025
- PI: Joey Peutz
- Program manager: Lindsey McConnell-Soong
EXCITE regional health agents
The Extension Foundation, in cooperation with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), through an interagency agreement with the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are funding the Cooperative Extension System for the EXCITE Regional Immunization Education Staffing Model.
Beginning in September 2025, Lindsey McConnell-Soong will serve as the regional EXCITE health agent. The objectives of this new staffing model are:
- In collaboration with local partners, increase the public’s confidence in vaccination for adults.
- Support Extension professionals across program areas in increasing their knowledge of and ability to educate communities using a model for making sustainable health decisions.
- Expand and strengthen community partnerships with health departments, healthcare providers and community-based organizations depending on the needs of their communities.
- Integrate vaccine education across program areas with Extension colleagues, community health workers, and volunteers as a core part of Cooperative Extension’s ongoing outreach.
September 2025
- PI: Lindsey McConnell-Soong