HPAC Scholar's Day 2019 CHW_Assessment_Key_Findings | Page 8

Settings that are Utilizing CHWs in
Ohio
The top five types of organizations that
CHW survey respondents reported working
for were managed care organizations,
community-based organizations, local
health departments, hospitals, and federally
qualified health centers (FQHCs).
and continuing education. However, it was
stated that CHWs need more information
and access to free or low-cost continuing
education opportunities. Furthermore, it was
reported that training programs also need to
focus on teaching CHWs self-care to prevent
burnout as well as professionalism and soft
skills to ensure they are successful in finding
and maintaining employment.
Funding Mechanisms for CHWs in Ohio In terms of CHW certification, it was found
One of the major concerns cited throughout
all phases of the assessment was sustainable
funding mechanisms for CHWs. According to
findings from key informant interviews, focus
groups and surveys, a majority of CHWs are
funded by grants. Other sources of funding
include health plan contracts, self-generated
agency revenue, private foundations, non-
profit organizations, and general agency
funds.
A majority (45 percent) of employers reported
that they are uncertain if their funding
mechanisms are sustainable and 35 percent
feel that their funding mechanisms are not
sustainable. Only 20 percent of respondents
feel their mechanisms are sustainable
(mostly managed care plans). Finally, the
greatest concern for survey respondents
regarding the sustainability of CHW programs
is funding uncertainty (74 percent).
throughout this assessment that there are
generally favorable attitudes towards CHW
certification in Ohio from stakeholders,
employers, and CHWs (both certified
and non-certified). However, barriers to
certification exist in Ohio. These barriers
include training programs are too long,
training programs are too costly, it is too
far to travel to training programs, it is too
expensive to maintain certification, there
are not enough affordable and accessible
continuing education opportunities,
certification is not required by all employers,
the process of certification renewal is not
clear, certification does not make a difference
in terms of pay, background checks prohibit
some CHWs from ever getting certified, and
many CHWs in Ohio are not even aware that
certification exists.
Focus of CHW Work in Ohio
Another overarching finding of this
CHW Training and Certification in Ohio assessment is that CHWs work with a variety
Overall, it was found through this assessment
that CHWs receive various formal and
informal training for their current positions,
with particular emphasis on chronic disease
management. There are several options for
training in Ohio which includes Ohio Board of
Nursing (OBN) approved training programs,
employer training programs, and other
programs throughout Ohio. Furthermore,
CHWs continually noted the value of training
of populations in Ohio and have a variety of
roles and responsibilities. While CHWs may
work with any population or topic area, the
most frequently reported target population
and or/topic areas from CHW survey
respondents were adult women, pregnancy/
prenatal care, adult men, children, and
infants. Many CHWs reported targeting low-
income and underserved populations as
well as minority populations as a particular
Executive Summary
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