Item 2b. Community Health Worker Hub Overview - Austin Public Health — original pdf

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Overview of the Community Health Worker Hub June 28, 2022 LAURA G. LA FUENTE – INTERIM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR LISA BLACKWELL - PROGRAM SUPERVISOR Community Health Worker “A community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.” The Path to the Hub 2019 – Request for Career Ladder Progression for Community Health Worker (CHW) Family. 2019/2020 – Internal plans developed to launch a CHW HUB 2021 – Reimagining Public Safety Taskforce Public Health Recommendations August 2021 – Community Health Worker titles within the City of Austin. August 2021 - $500,000 in one-time funding for the creation of the CHW Network and Training. March 2022 – Austin Public Health approved for a certification training program for Community Health Workers. Community Health Worker and Community Health Worker Instructor Community Health Worker (CHW) • Liaison and trusted messenger • Advocates • Connects Community Health Worker Instructor (CHW-I) Trains other CHWs • 160 hr certification • Continuing Education course (CEU) Certification for Community Health Workers Who can be a Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Certified Community Health Worker?  Texas resident  16 yrs. old +  Training • Class Instruction – Completion 160-hour approved class instruction OR • Experience – At least 1000 hrs. of CHW experience CHW Core Competencies Communication Skills Interpersonal Skills Service Coordination Skills Capacity-Building Skills Advocacy Skills Teaching Skills Organizational Skills Knowledge Base on Specific Health Issues Training for CHW Certification Option 1 - Class Instruction Option 2 - Experience • Approved DSHS training program • 160 hours • Virtual and In-person learning options OR • 1000 cumulative hours of community health work services • Within last three (3) years. • Experience verified with the supervisor(s) noted in the application. • Virtual Class – Tuesday & Thursdays, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm • In-Person – Saturdays, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm • May 21st – September 10th Class Set Up • 2 cohorts Current Enrollment • Virtual – 21 • In-person – 19 Marketing Staffing • Current APH Instructors • Staffing Challenges 160 hr. training course • Word-of-Mouth from APH CHW Instructors • Promo Flyer • Total sign-ups for classes (142 responses) CHW Certification Renewal CHW Certification is renewable every two years. To renew CHW certification with DSHS – • Be a current Texas resident. • Complete 20 hours of continuing education units (CEUs) every two years. o CEUs must be related to core competencies o Minimum 10 certified hours and 10 non- certified hours o DSHS Website – Education Calendar and online courses CEUs Breakdown for Renewing Certified Certified Non-Certified • 10 hrs of DSHS certified CEUs • 5 hrs of DSHS certified OR CEUs and • 5 hrs of CEUs completed to renew a Texas license or certification in another health profession + • 10 hrs of non- DSHS certified CEUs Laura G. La Fuente Interim Assistant Director Health Equity Community Engagement Laura.Lafuente@austintexas.gov Lisa Blackwell Program Supervisor APH Community Health Worker Hub Lisa.Blackwell@austintexas.gov Resources https://dshs.texas.gov/chw.aspx https://www.austintexas.gov/department/community-health-worker-hub