HPAC Scholar's Day 2019 CHW_Assessment_Key_Findings

Profession in General ■ ■ Clearly define the scope of practice for certified CHWs and for non-certified CHWs in Ohio using the findings of this assessment, definitions from other state models, and the CHW Core Consensus Project defined roles of a CHW as a starting point ■ ■ Seek funding to train health providers (i.e., in hospitals, PCMHs, FQHCs, local health departments, etc.) and supervisors on the CHW profession and how to integrate CHWs into the team to increase appropriate CHW utilization for chronic disease and behavioral health management ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The training should include CHW scope of practice, beyond nurse delegated tasks, populations that CHWs work with, types of settings CHWs work in, CHW return on investment, and best practices for CHW integration on the health team. Those supervising CHWs should be required to participate in at least one training. Several states including Minnesota, Michigan, Massachusetts and New Mexico offer training for CHW supervisors. These examples could help Ohio develop a standardized training for supervisors that could be adopted by organizations that hire CHWs Seek funding to support and sustain a centralized source of information and resources for CHW training, continuing education, job boards, and OCHWA activities using the already created CHW website for Ohio: http:// communityhealthcollaborative.org Develop ways to measure and report on outcomes attributed to CHWs annually in Ohio Training and Continuing Education ■ ■ Conduct further exploration of CHW training programs to determine exact curricular content, program capacity, program costs, program length, graduation rates, certification rates, and employment rates in order to determine the need for targeted improvements in a CHW training program structure that is accessible and affordable to all current non-certified CHWs and those interested in becoming a CHW as well as curricular content that adequately prepares CHWs for the workplace (i.e., self-care, soft skills, professionalism, content that reflects skills required in current job descriptions) and management of client conditions beyond a focus on nurse delegation tasks (i.e., chronic conditions through training as a facilitator for the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program) ■ ■ Create and/or compile affordable and accessible continuing education opportunities for CHWs across Ohio specific to chronic disease and behavioral health management and post on the centralized source (such as the already created CHW website for Ohio: http:// communityhealthcollaborative.org) ■ ■ Conduct an annual Ohio CHW Conference focused on CHW professional development Certification ■ ■ Appoint a CHW representative to attend meetings regarding the management and administration of CHW certification and/ or practice in Ohio ■ ■ Consider adopting a tiered model of CHW certification in Ohio that are similar to those adopted by other states Recommendations 42

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