Building a National Movement and Consensus: The Rationale and Methods of the Community Health Worker Common Core (C3) Project

This presentation, one of three proposed about this Project, will provide an overview of rationale and methods of the Community Health Worker Common Core (C3) Project led by the University of Texas Project on CHW Policy and Practice in cooperation with the National Areas Health Education Centers Organization and the APHA CHW Section. The lack of a formal consensus on CHW Roles and Competencies and no national CHW association are drivers for the C3 Project. The C3 Project builds on work carried out as part of the National Community Health Advisor Study (NCHAS). Since its release in 1998, many in the US have relied on the NCHAS as a guide to help identify CHW Roles or Scope of Practice (SoP) and CHW core Competencies (Skills & Qualities) with a focus on Skills. The C3 Project includes a core team from the 1998 NCHAS study, joined by other experts in the field including CHW consultants, CHW Fellows and other members of a majority CHW Advisory Committee. Together a core Implementation Team undertook a “contemporary” look at CHW Roles and Skills based on an analysis of secondary data in select benchmark documents outlining CHW Roles or SoP and Skills. Benchmark materials were analyzed through a crosswalk; findings were reviewed to refine language and the components of Roles and Skills. A Readers Panel reviewed the C3 Project’s Working Report including recommended Roles and Competencies to ensure readiness for US CHW network review, endorsement and following that review, wider release.