Best Practices Guidelines in Implementing and Evaluating CHW Programs in Health Care Settings

 Jamie Campbell, MPH

Sinai Urban Health Institute

CHWs in Illinois: Recognizing and Sustaining the WorkforceApril 21, 2014

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Outline

• Background– Sinai Urban Health Institute– Community Health Worker (CHW)

Research and Evaluation Project

• Best Practice Guidelines for Implementing and Evaluating Community Health Worker Programs in Health Care Settings

• Concluding remarks

• Founded in 2000, SUHI is a community-based research institute that is part of the Sinai Health System

• Develops and implements effective approaches that improve the health of urban communities

• Serves as a focal point for the evidence-based examination of community health status, the effectiveness of interventions, and methods of improving health care delivery

• A lead institute in documenting and addressing health disparities in Chicago

• Implementing the CHW model for 13 years3

Sinai Urban Health Institute

• In 2010, approached by the Fry Foundation to explore CHW roles and models in healthcare

• Noticed a growing utilization of CHWs in health care settings

• Recognized gaps in the knowledge-base of the field concerning best practices

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CHW Research and Evaluation Project (2011-

2013)

Methods

• Conducted a comprehensive literature review on CHWs

• Networked with major CHW groups throughout the Illinois and the U.S.– The American Public Health Association CHW Section– The Chicago CHW Local Network– Health & Medicine Policy Research Group– The CHW Alliance of CEED@Chicago

• Conducted formal and informal interviews with stakeholders in the field

• Surveyed local health care agencies currently implementing the CHW model within their system5

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CHW Model Quadrant

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Outline

• Background– Sinai Urban Health Institute– Community Health Worker (CHW)

Research and Evaluation Project

• Best Practice Guidelines for Implementing and Evaluating Community Health Worker Programs in Health Care Settings

• Concluding remarks

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Purpose and Objective:

• Blue print for CHW program implementation or revising practices

• Aids programs wanting to more critically examine CHW system processes and program outcomes

• Grounded in evidence-based science

This project is supported by the Lloyd A Fry Foundation

1. An Extensive Review of Available Published Professional Literature

2. Evidence from the CHW National Workforce Study (2007)• National snapshot; Comparison data for #3

3. Findings from the CHW in Chicago Health Care Setting Survey (2011)• Local snapshot; Specific to health care

4. Experience from SUHI’s CHW programs• Hospital and community-based programs

5. Additional perspectives from local and national CHW employers, researchers, and CHWs themselves

Sources of Background Information

• Innovative approaches to CHW hiring, training, and performance evaluation;

• Supervision challenges and strategies for success;

• Providing a positive organizational climate to facilitate CHW integration;

• Other effective elements of program design; and

• Program evaluation, including CHW process and outcome measures.

Topics Included

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CHW Best Practice Guidelines

• Five Summary of Evidence Sections1. CHW Hiring2. CHW Training3. CHW Supervision4. CHW Integration into Health Care Systems5. Evaluating CHW Programs and Interventions

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Dissemination

• Efforts to distribute the CHW Best Practices report and inform health agencies about the CHW model– Conferences– Presentations– Workshops

• Working with local groups, such as– Chicago CHW Local Network– Health & Medicine Policy Research Group– Illinois Health Care Taskforce Working Group 3

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Outline

• Background– Sinai Urban Health Institute– Community Health Worker (CHW)

Research and Evaluation Project

• Best Practice Guidelines for Implementing and Evaluating Community Health Worker Programs in Health Care Settings

• Concluding remarks

Summary

• CHWs play a role in reducing health disparities

• Hiring CHWs strengthens communities by providing jobs

• CHWs are a community resource• CHWs must be a part of the process

and are integral to the conversation

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Reports available at and by mail:www.suhichicago.org

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Questions

Jamie Campbell, MPHPhone: 773-257-5977

jamie.campbell@sinai.org

Melissa Gutierrez Kapheim, MSmelissa.gutierrez@sinai.org