266281 Community health worker/promotora certification in Texas

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Julie Ann St. John, MA, MPH, CHWI , Center for Community Health Development, School of Rural Public Health, TAMHSC, San Benito, TX
Beverly MacCarty, M.A. , Community Health Worker Training and Certification Program, Office of Title V and Family Health, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, TX
Anna Garcia , Community Health Worker Training and Certification Program, Office of Title V and Family Health, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, TX
Beatrice Smith , Community Health Worker Training and Certification Program, Office of Title V and Family Health, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, TX
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Promotora/Community Health Worker Training and Certification Program resulted from Senate Bill 1051 (77th Texas Legislative Sessions), which established and operated a training and certification program for persons who act as promotores or community health workers, instructors, and sponsoring institutions/training programs. The CHW Training and Certification program provides leadership to enhance the development and implementation of statewide training and certification standards and administrative rules as pertaining to CHWs, CHW instructors, and CHW training programs. This presentation will briefly describe: 1) the history of the certification program; 2) discuss the certification and recertification requirements and approval process for the three certification areas; 3) describe the Advisory Committee (advises DSHS and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission related to the training and certification of persons working as Promotores or Community Health Workers and is composed of nine members—four certified Promotores/CHWs, two public members, one member with experience in adult education and training of Promotores/CHWs; and two professionals who work with Promotores/CHWs); 4) discuss current legislation as pertaining to the certification program (HB2610); 5) list and describe the core competencies of certification program (communication, interpersonal skills, service coordination, capacity-building, advocacy, teaching, organization, and knowledge base); 6) describe and discuss the certification and recertification patterns over the past ten years in regards to certified CHWs, CHW instructors, and training programs; 7) discuss the future of CHW, CHW instructor, and CHW program certification in Texas; and 8) dialogue about lesson learned and CHW certification best practices.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1) List and discuss the three types of certification provided by the Texas DSHS and the approval/certification process for each certification type. 2) Describe and discuss recent and current legislation that could potentially impact the Texas CHW/Promotora Training and Certification Program. 3) Evaluate and discuss the number of applications and renewal rates for the three types of certification in Texas.

Keywords: Lay Health Workers, Certification

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have several years of experience in public health research. I have also trained, supervised, and worked with promotores for the past ten years. I also serve on the Texas DSHS CHW Certification and Training Program Advisory Committee.
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.

Back to: 4204.0: CHW Certification and Credentialing: States Perspectives' on Successful Practices and Lessons Learned