Community health workers have long been advocated as an effective strategy for reaching medically underserved populations and working with providers to facilitate culturally and linguistically appropriate health care services. A common concern of community health workers and others who support these programs is the lack of paraprofessional involvement the activities that drive the direction and sustainability of the programs they work for. By actively involving community health workers in the development and implementation of proposal development and activities, community health programs are strengthened. Project goals and objectives reflect the needs of the community served, and the insights of the community leaders that serve them. In turn, grant seeking becomes community-focused, rather than funder-driven, and community health workers gain experience and skill in resource development and evaluation activities necessary for program sustainability. This session will outline the ways community health workers can make a significant contribution to fundraising and program development, using examples from the Opening Doors national grant initiative, and other programs.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to: 1. Identify ways to actively involve community health workers in program development and fundraising activities. 2. Recognize how active involvement of front line workers in fundraising and program development activities empowers workers and improves program objectives and outcomes. 3. Describe the fundraising and program development benefits of involving lay health workers in the sustainability of the programs that improve the health of their communities
Keywords: Funding, Community Health Advisor
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Opening Doors: Reducing Sociocultural Barriers to Health Care
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.