Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112981

Janis A. Prince, PhD, MMFT, Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612-3805, 813 974-8610, jprince@hsc.usf.edu and Darlene Shearer, DrPH, The Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, University of South Florida, 3111 East Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613-4660.

This presentation will compare evaluation data on CHW ratings of job related abilities with those of their supervisors. The Maternal and Child Services Applied Technology Diploma (ATD) Program is a 21 credit-hour associate degree level training program for CHWs specializing in support services to childbearing families and their young children. The program was pilot tested at two schools in the Greater Tampa Bay area. With 28 graduates, it is being replicated in north-central Florida. The CHW self-efficacy instrument was designed to capture self-confidence in work related abilities, and was modified to allow supervisors to rate their confidence in the ability of the CHW they supervise. The survey was administered to CHWs enrolled in the 18-month program at three time points, and the final round of data collection is planned for six months post graduation. The supervisor version of the instrument was administered three times over the course of the training program, and a fourth round is planned for six months after CHWs graduate. A CHW who was enrolled in the program will describe her confidence in performing job related tasks and how this has evolved over time. The CHW will also discuss how supervisor ratings of CHW ability may differ from those of outreach workers themselves.

Learning Objectives:

• i) List 5 areas of change in self-efficacy of CHWs enrolled in training programs.
• ii) Describe barriers CHWs face in conveying improved ability to supervisors.
• iii) Discuss methodological challenges and opportunities in measuring self-efficacy.

Keywords: Community Health Advisor, Evaluation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.