Every state employs community health workers in mental health, substance abuse, for the homeless and in a variety of prevention services. Many workers receive low pay, very little job training, experience frequent stress, and are likely to leave their positions within a year. Community health networks have an opportunity to serve as a resource and haven to workers.
Although networks can be an invaluable resource at the state and local level, it is important realize that many obstacles can prevent their success. Interagency distrust, lack of resource within agencies, and lack of awareness of community resources all represent some of the barriers for agencies to work together. Community Health Workers can (and should) depend of other health workers to gain information about existing services and share about new programs for their clients. Developing community health networks brings CHWs to the planning table to discuss how to best service clients within a city, region, or state.
Beginning a community health network is a process of finding out what workers in an area need to be successful. Community Health Worker Networks have the opportunity to increase worker retention, increase relevant training opportunities, and provide more support. Each network’s purpose should focus on valuing outreach as a profession, creating formal lines of communication among workers of diverse professions, and developing worker job skills. Through an interactive exercise participants will have an opportunity to develop strategies for: 1) understanding worker needs, 2) overcoming challenges, and 3) developing a network.
Learning Objectives: 1. Discuss why community health worker (CHW) networks are needed. 2. Recognize barriers and challenges to developing CHW networks. 3. Identify how CHW networks can address worker and community needs. 4. Develop a model to initiate community health worker network in your area.
Keywords: Health Workers Training, Resource Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am an employee of AIDS Alabama. The Community Outreach Workshop is a community project of the Education and Outreach Department of this agency.