319744
What do we know? Evolution of evaluation of CHW certification in Texas
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
: 12:50 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.
Julie StJohn, DrPH, MA, CHWI,
Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, 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
The Texas Department of State Health Services Promotor(a) or Community Health Worker Training and Certification Program began in 2001 to provide certification for Texas CHWs, instructors, and training programs. The increased interest in, and value of the CHW workforce continues to grow exponentially as seen by the steady increase in certified CHWs in Texas from 625 in December 2009 to 3,113 in December 2014. Since its inception, the program has conducted process evaluation activities within the program to collect data related to certification and renewal rates, curricula, and initial certification and continuing education courses. However, little is known about the actual benefit of certification for CHWs, residents served by CHWs, or employers of CHWs. In light of the lack of information regarding the potential benefit of CHW certification, Advisory committee members and stakeholders worked together to develop an additional, voluntary evaluation tool to start collecting information to answer questions related to the perceived value of CHW certification in Texas. This presentation will describe: 1) how the idea to do an evaluation survey arose; 2) the evaluation workgroup; 3) the workgroup process; 4) the development and testing of the tool; 5) the adoption of the tool; 6) the online development, testing, and refinement process by the state CHW program office; 7) the communication plan regarding the evaluation tool; and 8) the implementation process. This presentation will build on information presented on CHW certification in Texas and past evaluation data collected and then set the tone to present preliminary findings.
Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Learning Objectives:
Describe how the idea to develop a new evaluation tool evolved.
List the steps involved in developing the new evaluation tool.
Describe changes in Texas CHW certification evaluation over time.
Keyword(s): Community Health Workers and Promoters, Policy/Policy Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Texas certified CHW Instructor, served as the director of the National CHW Training Center, and have trained, supervised, and worked with CHWs for the past thirteen years. I have also served on the Texas Department of State Health Services CHW Training and Certification Program Advisory Committee since 2011 as a professional member.
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.
