Since 1988, the Community Health Advisor program has been addressing health concerns and inadequate access to health services in underserved population across the nation. The Community Health Advisor Network, (CHAN) a training, technical assistance, networking organization which promotes establishment and support of Community Health Advisor programs, is now in its second year as a program of the Center for Sustainable Health Outreach. The Center for Sustainable Health Outreach (CSHO), a collaboration between the University of Southern Mississippi and the Harrison Institute for Public Law at Georgetown University, promotes community health workers are an effective and efficient means of improving community health by linking communities and health care systems. CSHO also supports development, implementation, and evaluation of community health worker programs.
CHAN is currently developing a very different approach to the Community Health Advisor program - one that utilizes volunteer lay health advisors, paid community health workers and implementing organizational staff. This adaptation is beneficial because it relies on existing organizations within the community that may have a disease-specific focus and assists them in developing a community capacity building model through facilitation, training, and outreach. Linked with community leaders and health professionals, community health advisors and paid community health workers develop community outreach plans targeted at "hard-to-reach" populations. Two successful programs will be highlighted, the Deep South Network for Cancer Control and Case Management for HIV/AIDS.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, participants should be able to understand the important role both volunteer and paid Community Health Workers play in developing community wellness.
Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Community Health Promoters
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Center for Sustainable Health Outreach, Community Health Advisor Network
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.