From Innovation to sustainability: A program's perspective on successes and challenges of implementing a CHW program in an HMO setting

In this session the Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) will discuss the challenges and successes of sustaining a Community Health Worker (CHW) public health model program in an HMO setting. IEHP understands how CHWs/Promotores serve an important role in reaching and teaching various disadvantaged populations. This understanding was key to creating the Health Navigator Program, which uses community participatory approaches and home visitation to effectively make positive change in member's lives. In addition to teaching families how to navigate the healthcare system and helping them establish a medical home with a Primary Care Provider (PCP) the program also connects families to essential community resources (ex. Food distribution, WIC, Head Start, violence counseling, etc.).

This session will feature best practices that highlight the solutions to challenges that occur in creating and sustaining a CHW program. Some of the topics will include creating agency support for a new program, long term financial sustainability, family compliance, addressing needs beyond healthcare, hiring/supervising a diverse team, dealing with emotional toll on employees, program evaluation, etc. Throughout the presentation real life accounts from the IEHP Health Navigator Program will assist to facilitate learning.

This session is relevant for community leaders such as, Promotores, CHWs, Public Health professionals, and management personnel of CHW Programs who want to learn ways to manage and find successful solutions to challenges that arise when creating and sustaining a CHW program. This workshop is based on recent data, practical application, and evaluation of IEHP's Health Navigator Program, based on the CHW/Promotores model.