Community Health Outreach Community Health Outreach Workers in - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Community Health Outreach Community Health Outreach Workers in SBHCs Workers in SBHCs Technical Assistance and Training Panel Jordan Hampton Kay Fangerow Aisha Moore Laura Brey

Community Outreach Workers Community Outreach Workers � Background � Roles � Outcomes � Obstacles � Training and Certifications � Focus Group Discussion

Background Background � Community Outreach Workers “community members who work almost exclusively in community settings and who serve as connectors between health care consumers and providers to promote health among groups that have traditionally lacked access to adequate care.”

Background Background � CHW programs have existed since the 1960’s � Role has numerous job titles � Used to fill gaps in health care system � Often used with underserved communities � Growing response to health care disparities � Natural helpers or “change agents”

Roles Roles � Extension of Primary Care � Insurance Enrollment � Advocacy/Community Organizing � Health Education � Cultural Broker � Translator

Outcomes Outcomes � Access – Improved access to care through primary and secondary prevention outreach efforts – Using CHWs to enroll qualified consumers in Medicaid and SCHIP has been more successful than media campaigns

Outcomes Outcomes � Quality – CHWs can assist patients with keeping appointments, providing translation, and arranging transportation to facilitate compliance and follow-up – through outreach CHWs can educate the community about health conditions and encourage them to take preventive measures, go for screenings, or seek treatment

Outcomes Outcomes � Cost – Only small number of studies available – the average costs of services provided by CHWs are significantly lower than services at the next highest level in delivery system – In Maryland, Medicaid clients who were served by a CHW cost $2700 less on average

Obstacles Obstacles � Lack of clear definition of a workforce � Absence of standardized curriculum and certification � Broad range of compensation structures from salaried, providing stipends, to volunteer

Community Health Workers in SBHCs Community Health Workers in SBHCs � Function as primary extension agents or community organizers � Are generally paid at least a stipend and are not volunteers � There is no standardized training curriculum

Questions Questions � What is their function? � What is their title? � How was it created? � How long has the position existed? � How are they funded? � What value if any have they brought to your centers?

Questions Questions � What are their qualifications? � How are they evaluated? � How are they trained? � Do you have a curriculum for training? � Constraints or challenges? � Suggestions for ways to move forward?

Methods Conclusions and Implications Purpose Design : Qualitative Formative Research, Purposive Sample To describe how Community Outreach Workers are used in Community Outreach Workers go by many School Based Health Centers. names and serve many functions. They add Setting/Participants : NASBHC staff identified programs with value to centers by increasing access, COWs improving the quality of care and providing culturally appropriate services. They Procedure: Telephone interviews lasting 35 minutes were conducted. maximize the impact of the services Background provided by “expanding the walls” of the Analysis: Constant comparative method used to look for clinic through outreach to the surrounding CHW programs have existed since the 1960’s recurring themes. community. Role has numerous job titles Used to fill gaps in health care system Limitations: Data are from a limited number of respondents. Recommendations Often used with underserved communities Only key informants with successful programs were interviewed. Growing response to health care disparities Document the need for the position. Natural helpers or “change agents” Identify the various training curricula Create a job description for the position Identify diversified funding sources for the position Write the position into the your next grant Results Improves cross cultural communication • Bilingual staff helps with outreach to limited English proficient populations • Trained translators help patients adhere to doctors orders • Hiring staff from the community Provides value added (non- served increases family and billable) services youth engagement Improves access to care and the quality of care Encourages eligible families to sign up for health insurance Increased compliance with referrals Transportation Translation Social Services Support Needs Assessment Grassroots Advocacy Health Education Family Engagement Increase awareness in the community Makes home visits Makes presentations