Community Health Workers A Community Health Worker, (CHW) is a - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Community Health Workers

• A Community Health Worker, (CHW) is a

frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served.

• This APHA definition has been adopted by
• ther organizations in Kentucky including the

Kentucky Association of Community Health Workers (KYACHW).

http://www.apha.org/advocacy/policy/policysearch/default.htm?id=1393

Bridge Program Overview

• Bridge the gap between communities and the

health and social service systems

• Navigate the health and human services

system

• Advocate for individual and community needs
• Provide direct services
• Build individual and community capacity
• Focus Chronic Disease Management Self-

Management

• Increase Self- Efficacy

Funding History

• 2006 – HRSA Outreach grant to provide direct medical and

dental services to Hispanic in Bath, Menifee, and Montgomery Counties

• 2009 – HRSA Outreach grant to provide mental health services

in addition to those listed above

• 2012 – HRSA Outreach grant to include the American population

and move to a chronic disease management model

• 2014 – HRSA Network Development grant to enhance the

workforce and development of CHW’s in 32 Appalachian eastern KY counties based on our CHW model

• 2015 – HRSA Outreach grant to expand our chronic disease

model to Rowan and Morgan counties and place two CHWs in the EDs

• 2017 – HRSA Network Development grant to expand into all

counties in KY with rural designation as defined by HRSA

Fast Facts

• Enrolled around 350 clients
• 50% have high blood pressure or

hypertension

• 24% have type II diabetes
• 34% state they use tobacco products on

a regular basis

• 33% state they do not engage in any

physical activity or exercise

Key Findings

• Significant reduction in A1c
• Increase appointment compliance
• Increase in medication adherence
• Statistically significant decrease in ER visits
• Statistically significant increase in self-efficacy
• Statistically significant increase in perceived

health status

• 41% met Care Plan goals

Blood Pressure

• Significant reduction in blood pressure

from the first to the fifth visit

• Increase hypertension medication

adherence (65% at initial visit, 75% at 6 months, 80% at 12 months, and 91% at 15 months

Cholesterol Project

• Trouble obtaining lipid panel from

physician

• Utilize hand-held machine
• Total, LDL, and HDL at the initial and

each quarterly visit

AKHCAN

• Appalachian Kentucky Health Care Access

Network (AKHCAN)

• AKHCAN is a group of experts and stakeholders, joined

together by a shared vision of healthier people in Kentucky. The Network utilizes its combined experience, commitment and expertise to support Community Health Worker (CHW) programming.

AKHCAN Goals

• Working together to increase the number of CHWs in KY to improve health care

access and positive health outcomes for all rural Kentuckians

• 1. Expand CHW programming throughout Kentucky
• 2. Develop quality training and tools for statewide

utilization

• 3. Explore viability of a certification process for Kentucky

CHWs

• 4. Support CHW workforce development

CHW Core Competencies

Contact

• Gina Brien, MA,

Health Education Director Ginal.brien@ky.gov

• Jan Chamness, MPH (Retired)

jbchamness@gmail.com