What Makes An Effective CHW Program? -White Paper by NCQA

The National Committee for Quality Assurance and Penn Center for Community Health Workers published this white paper, CRITICAL INPUTS FOR SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER PROGRAMS, in November 2021. It will be discussed by a panel of experts over Zoom on December 14, 2021 at 4pm EST.

Register for the Zoom today!

Community health workers are more critical than ever.  As funding increases, the key question is how to make these programs as effective as possible. 

The speakers will discuss the process of developing these inputs, share reactions from the field and discuss ways to incorporate this information into current and future work.

Speakers:
• Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), United States Senate
• Peggy O’Kane, President, NCQA
• Brea Burke, Community Health Worker, Ballad Health
• Martha Chavis, CEO/President, Camden Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
• Cheryl Garfield, Community Health Worker, Penn Center for Community Health Workers
• Chethan Bachireddy, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Virginia Medicaid

CHW Cardiovascular Health/Diabetes Management Training (virtual)

Community Health Workers Association of Rhode Island Logo
Institute for Education in Healthcare, Rhode Island College

Certified Community Health Worker

Cardiovascular Health/Diabetes Management Virtual Training

October 25, 2021 – December 13, 2021

 

Topics:

Motivational Interviewing and Social Determinants of Health, Stroke, Heart Disease, Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Pre-Diabetes, Diabetes, Healthy Eating and Weight Control, Lifestyle Interventions

This training fulfills the educational content hours requirement for the Rhode Island Certification Board’s application for Cardiovascular Health/Diabetes specialty endorsement.

Schedule/Format:

October 25 through December 13, 2021

Zoom Class: Mondays 5pm – 7pm (EST);
Zoom Class: Thursdays 9am 11am (EST)

(No class November 11, November 25 or December 9)

Self-paced, weekly, 1-2 hour asynchronous lessons

Eligibility:

Certification in CHW for Rhode Island (if in the process of applying, please email David Zuleta at dzuleta@ric.edu to discuss possibility of participating)

Cost: 

FREE.  This training is funded by the Rhode Island Department of Health 

To Apply:

Click HERE

or paste link into browser: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScANKSFDX33bLBB4Z2FuFYnOQNAL8YN9j8pqxEHMoI-y23dVA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Questions: 

Email David Zuleta at dzuleta@ric.edu 

“Building Holistic Partnerships with Older Adults” Training for CCHWs

Community Health Workers Association of Rhode Island Logo

CHW Training for certified CHWs, starting October 21. Apply HERE

Training Dates/Times:

Mondays, 9am – 12pm
October 25, 2021 – December 13, 2021

with online Orientation on Thursday, October 21, 6-8pm
and student presentations Thursday, December 16, 6-8pm

Description:

“Building Holistic Partnerships with Older Adults: A Community Health Work, Person-Centered & Social Determinants of Health Approach” is a training for Certified Community Health Workers aspiring to earn Rhode Island’s CHW Specialty in Older Adults certification. The training will provide CCHWs with knowledge of:

  • CHWs, Aging & the Workforce
  • Sociological Contexts of Aging: Obstacles & Opportunities
  • Practice Perspective: Building Partnerships that Empower
  • Social Determinants of Health & Aging: Obstacles & Opportunities
  • Threats to Health Aging: Behavioral Health Challenges & Dementia
  • Healthy Aging
  • Empowering Partnerships & Resource Navigation

Format:

Training will be comprised of weekly synchronous Zoom sessions, 9am – Noon, and weekly asynchronous assignments and activities requiring about 1-2 hours of additional self-paced time.

Eligibility:

  • Rhode Island CHW Certification (or in process of applying)
  • Experience working or volunteering with the older adult population

Cost:

The training is FREE, funded by the Rhode Island Parent Information Network and a RI Foundation grant

Patient Navigator / Community Health Worker

Rhode Island Free Clinic
Providence
Competitive Salary & Benefits Including Health & Dental Insurance
Start Date: June
Full Time, Permanent
Bilingual English Spanish

POSITION SUMMARY

Patient Navigator/Community Health Worker (40 hours): The full-time Bilingual Patient Navigator/Community health Worker will work as a strategic partner with Clinic staff and volunteers to further our model of high-quality, community-based healthcare services for uninsured adults. Reporting to the Clinic Practice Manager, they will work with RI Department of Health Programs including Wise Women Program and Women’s Cancer & Colorectal Screening Programs, as well as other Clinic interventions and programs, community resources, and Electronic Medical Records. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Duties:
• Serve as program liaison between the Clinic and RI Department of Health.
• Identify and enroll Patients in the Wisewoman Program and Women’s Canner Screening Program, and additional programs including smoking cessation and others. 
• Assist patients to overcome barriers and support adherence to program activities.
• Provide exceptional navigation to connect patients with resources, and remove barriers to health care in general.
• Support medical providers by providing tools and resources to help patients, including regular monitoring of health indicators including blood pressure at home.
• Take patient vital signs, height and weight; record information in Electronic Medical Record and prepare patients for examinations.
• Perform EKGs and waived testing (Glucometer, Urine Dips).
• Coordinate access to community-based activity such as YMCA memberships.
• Perform tracking, follow up, and data collection/maintenance to monitor client progress, and support grant reporting.

Administrative duties:
• Work with clinic nurse and staff to ensure efficient patient flow during clinic sessions.
• Greet patients, volunteers and Clinic guests.
• Maintain timely and accurate records and documentation of specific deliverables for care.
• Outreach to patients in a timely manner aligned with Clinic priorities & program guidelines.
• Provide assistance to develop and generate reports from Electronic Medical Record.
• Assist staff with data collection for grants and reporting.

Other Duties:
• Bilingual staff will work with Clinic & Wellness Nurses and other providers to provide interpreter services as necessary.
• Facilitates referrals to outside sources, tracks referrals & informs patient of upcoming appointments by phone & by mail.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual in Spanish and English required.
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
• Critical thinking skills, initiative, reliability, follow-through, flexibility, and responsibility are required.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Related work experience preferred.
• Knowledge of HIPAA and OSHA requirements.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Commitment to the Clinic’s mission and volunteer model of Medical Home care.

Physical Requirements
• Must be able to lift 30 lbs.
• Must be able to stoop, bend and turn without difficulty.
• Meet with patients in the community; at their home or other community setting.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as required.

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

Rhode Island Free Clinic (www.rifreeclinic.org) provides free comprehensive primary health care to uninsured, working poor, and low-income adults; and, serves as an educational site for trainees in health care fields. Care is provided through a dynamic statewide network of volunteer medical professionals working with academic, medical, and community partners, leveraging robust health care resources with a vitality that is unmatched in Rhode Island and remarkable in the nation. In 2020, the Clinic mobilized nearly 600 volunteers and community partners to provide over 13,000 patient visits to underserved adults, and over 5,700 hours of training for students in health care fields.   

How to Apply

——————————————-
TO APPLY:  Please email RESUME and COVER LETTER to: info@rifreeclinic.org.
No calls please.

Financial Assistance for Internet!

Sign Up Begins May 12th!

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program [linkprotect.cudasvc.com] to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, virtual classrooms, and so much more.

About the Emergency Broadband Benefit

  • The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
  • Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
  • The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

Who Is Eligible for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program?A household is eligible if a member of the household meets one of the criteria below:

  • Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines [aspe.hhs.gov] or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline [linkprotect.cudasvc.com];
  • Approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year;
  • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
  • Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
  • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

When can patients Sign Up for the Benefit?

As of May 12, 2021, eligible households will be able to enroll in the program to receive a monthly discount off the cost of broadband service from an approved provider. Eligible households can enroll through an approved provider or by visiting https://getemergencybroadband.org [linkprotect.cudasvc.com].

Check out the Broadband Benefit Consumer FAQ for more information about the benefit [linkprotect.cudasvc.com] and https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-broadband-benefit-outreach-toolkit [linkprotect.cudasvc.com] for patient education tools.