FHNFARMWORKER HEALTH NETWORK

Key Resources for Migrant HealthThe Farmworker Health Network (FHN) is com-prised of six National Cooperative Agreements in migrant health funded through the US De-partment of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide training and technical assistance to current and potential Migrant Health Center Pro-grams. The FHN is committed to supporting the development of leadership within Community and Migrant Health Centers and increasing ac-cess to care for the farmworker population. We function as a trusted resource to health center staff and board, helping them to fulfill their ca-pacity building needs, and to incorporate service delivery options which are designed to enhance care to farmworkers and their families. Collabora-tion among FHN members includes a team ap-proach to addressing health center needs and bringing multiple areas of expertise to bear in problem solving. The FHN works to assure the visibility of the Migrant Health Program within HHS, and other governmental and private or-ganizations through the articulation of issues, analysis and comment on proposed policy and procedural documents, dissemination of popula-tion specific information and provision of tech-nical assistance services to address the need for information, training, and education. Attached are key resources from each of the FHN members which highlight best practices and field-tested models in migrant health.

Innovative Outreach PracticesA collection of field-tested practices from farmworker health outreach programs across the country presented through annual reports and

a searchable online database. These practices provide inspiration as well as practical strategies for organizations seeking to develop new or strengthen existing outreach programs.

Outreach ConnectionAn information portal for outreach staff that is updated regularly with resources and articles addressing topics such as health outreach and enabling services, program planning and development, needs assessment and evaluation data, health education and promotion, community collaboration, and cultural competency. Subscribers are alerted to new content via email alerts.

Eye on Farmworker Health“Eye on Farmworker Health” (EOFH) is a quarterly e-newsletter published by Farmworker Justice on issues affecting the health and safety of migrant farmworkers. Each issue includes summaries of important

recent developments in occupational health research and regulation to help health professionals, outreach workers, promotores de salud and advocates strengthen their efforts on behalf of farmworkers and their families.

Resources for Migrant Health CentersFarmworker Justice has put together resources for healthcare providers on topics related to occupational health and access to services for farmworkers. This section includes an overview of federal agricultural standards, a risk management series for migrant health centers, and guides to Medicaid and meeting the needs of Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients. It also includes links to comprehensive training and outreach materials for health outreach workers on occupational and environmental health topics such as pesticide safety, field sanitation and heat stress.

Peer-to-Peer WebinarsThrough HOP’s Peer-To-Peer Webinars, representatives from community-based health organizations share their firsthand experiences addressing health topics and other issues impacting health access for vulnerable populations. Attendees can pose real-time questions and webinars are recorded for future access.

Outreach Reference ManualHOP’s Outreach Reference Manual is a comprehensive resource designed to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of health outreach programs. The manualincludes chapters on cultural competency, health education, recruitment and retention, needs assessment, planning, and evaluation, and case management, and can be customized by individual programs.

Click the title of each paragraph to visit the corresponding link

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NCFH Performance Management and Governance Tool KitThe NCFH Performance Management and Governance Tool Kit is a web based tool which provides Migrant Health grantees with sample policies, procedures, forms, and other supportive documents specifically designed according to the administrative and governance program requirements. The broad topical categories of the Resource Kit are: Administrative, Cultural Competency, Governance, Health Education, Human Resources, Needs Assessment, and Service Delivery Models. For topics covered under each category, the Resource Kit provides a description of each topic, points to remember in addressing the needs of farmworker patients, a sample policy and procedure of the topic, a sample form or template of the topic, and other resources relevant to the topic. The policy and procedures and forms available on the web site are presented as templates in Microsoft Word format so they can easily be adapted and changed by health centers to meet their individual needs.

Health TipsFormally titled Farmworker News, Health Tips is a bilingual (Spanish/English), quarterly-published newspaper that is available in both a print and electronic format. The goal of Health Tips is to provide health information that will educate and encourage individuals to visit a health clinic or health provider for their healthcare needs. The articles inform about serious illness that must be treated early, as well as the preventative care needed for a healthy lifestyle. It is intended to address those health concerns that are particularly prominent among the underserved Hispanic and/or farmworker population. Health Tips presents the latest, most updated information on health topics using lay terminology and lower literacy content and also includes contact information for those seeking further information.

Cultivando la Salud: A Breast and Cervical Cancer Education ProgramCultivando la Salud is an evidence-based program that has been proven effective in increasing mammography, clinical breast exam, and Pap test screening rates among farmworker women nationwide. This breast cancer education program was developed specifically for farmworker women 50 years and older and centers on the lay health worker model, but

Cultivando la Salud has also been utilized with other Hispanic communities nationwide and with women 40 years of age and older. Its overall goal is to reach farm-worker women (and other Hispanic women) with culturally appropriate breast and cervical cancer screening messages and encourage them to get screened. The program includes a comprehensive training program and educational outreach tools, including a flipchart and video.

Click the title of each paragraph to visit the corresponding link

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Camp Health Aide Program The Camp Health Aide Program, Migrant Health Promotion’s original program model, trains farmworkers as Promotores and

Promotoras, or Camp Health Aides, within migrant labor camps and communities. These Promotores(as) offer their peers health education, support and direct links to Migrant and Community Health Centers and to other community-based services.

Salud Para TodosSalud Para Todos (Health for All) trains Promotores and Promotoras to address mental health, substance abuse, stress and violence in their camps and communities. In collaboration with Migrant and Community Health Centers, the program supports Promotores(as) as they provide health education, referrals and advocacy. In this way, the Promotores(as) help health care providers improve their service delivery to farmworkers and rural communities.

Click the title of each paragraph to visit the corresponding linkFarmworker Doula Program The Farmworker Doula Program train experienced Promotoras as Doulas, or birth attendants, to guide and support women through pregnancy, childbirth and care of a newborn. Farmworker and immigrant women and other medically-underserved women are often unfamiliar with the health care system and hospital procedures. The Doulas remove barriers to prenatal care, provide emotional and educational support to pregnant women and their partners and support women during the birth process.

MCN Best Practices in Clinical Systems ToolboxMCN Clinical Systems Tool Box, your online connection to resources for best clinical documentation practices in migrant and community health centers. MCN’s staff has been collecting forms, policies, tools and protocols from health centers across the United States in an effort to make them available to others working to provide quality health care to the underserved. We have reviewed hundreds of documents and selected these samples for you to use and adapt to your own clinic needs.

Promising Practices in Migrant HealthThe Migrant Clinicians Network has collected a series of promising practices in migrant health. Each promising practice is categorized by the clinical area addressed and highlights the work of health centers across the country. We are pleased to be able to bring this new resource that allows the spread of good ideas and innovative practices.

Continuity of Care for Mobile PatientsMCN’s Health Network addresses the unique challenge of mobility by creating a system that not only allows clinicians to follow up with their patients, but ensures that patients can have appropriate continuity of care. Health Network provides critical patient navigation, bridge case management, medical records transfer, resource identification and evaluation, referral, and education for mobile patients requiring care for tuberculosis, diabetes, cancer screening follow up, and/or prenatal care. The Health Network system also works with HIV positive patients, Hansens Disease and most recently the H1N1 virus.

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