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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Ebele O. Benjamin, MPH, Monique Kusick, Micaela H. Coady, MS, Tinka Markham Piper, MPH, CSW, Sarah Sisco, MPH, MSW, and Princess Fortin, MPH. Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, 212-866-6925, ebenjamin@nyam.org

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are integral to health care delivery teams, and new roles have emerged for CHWs within the research arena. One setting is a New York City-based urban research center that conducts collaborative, multi-disciplinary, population-based research with low-income populations. Research efforts are conducted at field-based research storefronts in diverse neighborhoods. Typically community participants are recruited and enrolled into several different research studies that identify HIV and HCV incidence and risk factors among substance users. Project Directors (PDs) facilitate links between the research center and local communities. PDs supervise storefront study activities and apply project management techniques to ensure efficient data collection (i.e. study screeners and organizational checklists). Storefront-based projects employ CHWs with prior experience in community outreach and service provision; after being trained in health research, CHWs are responsible for recruiting and interviewing study participants, drawing blood samples, and providing counseling and referrals. Effective management of CHWs permits studies to be conducted at one facility with a single cadre of trained staff members, and use of similar protocols across multiple studies. This model reduces equipment, consolidates staff training and real estate costs, and promotes adherence to study protocols. We will describe project management tools and techniques used to streamline study flow, and effectively train CHWs to work in a multi-study research environment as Community Health Researchers. Lessons learned from both perspectives will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• 1) Illustrate methodologies used to train Community Health Workers to be Community Health Researchers.
• 2) Describe internal and external support mechanisms in place for Community Health Researchers.
• 3) Describe how project management tools will affect the way Community Health Researchers approach and conduct work in their communities.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation