Using a CHW outreach team to promote development of CHW leadership and home visiting skills and encourage innovative solutions to CHW workforce challenges in order to sustain and grow a CHW program in Sonoma County, California

The David Vanderryn Community Outreach Project (2010) Sonoma County, California, is an example of how funding for one CHW coordinator was effectively split between five CHW students, each with diverse language, ethnic and educational backgrounds; for 8 hours /week over one year. Volunteer hours arising out of the energy and devotion of the team far exceeded paid hours; each team member considering the learning and networking experience invaluable. Our primary objectives were to recruit referrals for the Santa Rosa Junior College CHW Home Visiting Program and promote the role of the CHW to health workforce policy makers, service providers, community leaders, philanthropists and potential CHW students. Supervision was by the SRJC CHW program director and a consulting physician from the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency program. Referrals were dramatically increased to underserved culturally diverse clients. Presentations were made to three new classes of family medicine doctors who are now aware of the role of the CHW. CHW outreach workers participated in seminars, forums, health fairs and health issue advocacy groups; increasing the awareness of the CHW's potential role in each; found agencies open to CHW interns and created bridges to potential permanent employment. DVCOP demonstrates that a team of CHWs, using core CHW skills, is an effective way to leverage funding and creative energy; while training and supporting potential CHW leaders who will continue to train supervise and advocate for CHWs as sustainable solutions to, increasing access to quality, cost effective health care for underserved and culturally diverse people.