Community Health Worker Competencies and Sustainability for Asian American Communities

Despite great advances towards health care reform, recent anti-immigrant policies continue to create great difficulties for communities navigating the fragmented health care system. Access has been further complicated by the advent of managed care- a challenge resulting in barriers to quality, affordable health care services. Community Health Workers (CHWs) have been at the forefront of modeling culturally appropriate interventions that address capacity and successfully build bridges within the safety net, however challenges continue in the areas of policy and funding effectively support their sustainability.

Asian Health Services (AHS), a federally qualified health center in Oakland, California, brings more than 35 years of experience and investment in the sustainability of the CHW model. As a partner in a four-year national community capacity building initiative for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities by the Kellogg Foundation and Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum: Health Through Action, AHS is identifying and advocating for the development and inclusion of training practices unique for Community Health Workers in Asian American immigrant communities.

The following presentation will share curriculum tools and best practices utilized to support the implementation and sustainability of CHWs in a community health center setting including integration as members of a health care team, patient navigation, and community organizing. The presentation will further highlight competency areas unique to CHWs working in/within Asian American communities, as well as identify policy recommendations and strategies of safety net providers to support the sustainability and expansion of CHWs.