The use of indigenous health care workers (IHCWs), who were key elements in community health care programs in the United States in the 1960s, has gone in and out of fashion in subsequent years. The author and his colleagues recently established a service program at Wayne State University's Institute of Maternal and Child Health that employs IHCWs. Characterizations of IHCWs in … [Read more...] about Effective utilization and evaluation of indigenous health care workers.
Human Resources Management/Workforce Development
Developing community health worker diabetes training.
This study designed, implemented and evaluated a 48-hour training program for community health workers (CHWs) deployed to diabetes care teams in community health centers (CHCs). The curriculum included core knowledge/skills with diabetes content to assist CHWs in developing patient self-management goals. The qualitative evaluation included pre/post-knowledge outcomes and … [Read more...] about Developing community health worker diabetes training.
Report on Community Health Worker Programs
North Dakota does not currently have a system in place to train and certify individuals to serve as Community Health Workers (CHS). The North Dakota (ND) Coordinated Chronic Disease Prevention Program (CCDPP) has designated funds to develop an infrastructure for training and certifying CHWs. Background information, examples of state CHW programs and related … [Read more...] about Report on Community Health Worker Programs
Recognizing the diverse roles of community health workers in the elimination of health disparities: from paid staff to volunteers.
The community health worker (CHW) model has been successfully used to promote health and reduce adverse health outcomes in underserved communities. Although there is a general consensus that involvement of natural helpers from the targeted communities is a promising approach in the elimination of health disparities, there is less agreement on their responsibilities, scope of … [Read more...] about Recognizing the diverse roles of community health workers in the elimination of health disparities: from paid staff to volunteers.
Applying the community health worker model to diabetes management: using mixed methods to assess implementation and effectiveness.
The community health worker (CHW) model is a popular method for reaching vulnerable populations with diabetes. This study assessed implementation and effectiveness of the model within diabetes programs. Five CHW roles were identified: educator, case manager, role model, program facilitator, and advocate. Roles, responsibilities and training varied greatly across programs. … [Read more...] about Applying the community health worker model to diabetes management: using mixed methods to assess implementation and effectiveness.