264708 Preparing community health workers as content experts

Monday, October 29, 2012

Ernie Peacock, MA , Management Services, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Tammi Fleming, MPH, CHES , Management Services, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Doris Spears, MS , Management Services, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
A key strategy for many programs addressing health disparities is the use of Community Health Workers (CHW). The benefits of employing CHWs to recruit and engage community residents and to implement core program components cannot be understated. CHWs typically possess a desired level of knowledge and expertise about their communities. Sometimes, however, they are not as familiar with or experienced in topic or program-related areas. While many agencies have hired and used CHWs as a strategy, many do not adequately prepare CHWs to effectively fulfill their role as public health agents of change. This session will highlight the process used in the Plain Talk model to develop CHWs who have both a public health foundation and expertise in adolescent reproductive health. Although the focus of this session is on the Plain Talk model, the concepts for assessing skills, creating staff development plans, and measuring outcomes can be universally applied. In 2010 Public Health Management Corporation was awarded a 5-year federal demonstration and evaluation grant for Plain Talk, a community-based teen pregnancy and STI prevention program. Key to the successful implementation of Plain Talk is the strategic use of the Walkers and Talkers. Walkers and Talkers are CHWs charged with outreach, recruitment and engagement of, and implementation of key program components for, adults and adolescents in the two Plain Talk implementation communities in Philadelphia.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
List core competencies of Plain Talk Community Health Worker model Develop content specific competencies for community health workers Formulate elements of staff development plan for community health workers Assess community health work capacity

Keywords: Community Health Promoters, Health Workers Training

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Mr. Peacock is currently the Health Services and Education Coordinator for the Plain Talk Philadelphia (PTP) program at Public Health Management Corporation. PTP is a federally-funded teenage pregnancy and STI prevention program. Mr. Peacock is responsible for coordinating delivery of adolescent-friendly reproductive healthcare services, development of program resources, staff education and training, and supervision of the adult education component of the PTP program.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.