Online Program

286202
Western Massachusetts public health training center (WMPHTC): Designing and implementing training programs for community health workers


Monday, November 4, 2013

Dawn Heffernan, RN, MS, CDE, Western MA Public Health Training Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA
Marie Meckel, MPH, PA-C, Mason Square Neighborhood Health Center, Springfield, MA
Natahsa Rossi, MPH, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA
Lesley Kayan, BA, Franklin County Care Corporation
Suzanne Rataj, MPH, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA
Daniel Gerber, MPH, EdD, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA
Stuart Chipkin, MD, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are highly valued members of the public health workforce with a unique set of skills and abilities grounded in their knowledge of community and their passion to improve the health of the target population. CHWs are widely recognized for their ability to reach out and educate the nation's most vulnerable populations. Based on an initial needs assessment, the WMPHTC provided face-to-face training programs to three CHW groups affiliated with the YMCA Men of Color Health Awareness (MOCHA) Mentors Program, Holyoke Health Center (HHC), and Mason Square Health Task Force and Clinic (MSHTFC). The informal needs assessment process conducted with CHWs and their supervisors was the basis for the chosen curriculum. Each group received training that responded to self-identified goals to provide more effective chronic disease self-management support to community residents. The standardized, evidence-based Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSM) curriculum developed by Stanford was identified as the most appropriate training program for the MOCHA Mentors, whereas HHC and MSHTFC received customized training based on supervisor- and CHW-identified needs.

•11 MOCHA Mentors completed the Stanford 24-hour CDSM Leaders Program. MOCHA Mentors also received 8 hours of grant writing training. •7 HHC CHWs received 12 hours of training addressing the diabetes spectrum and core competencies of public health. •15 MSHTFC CHW volunteers received 13 hours of training focused on accessing health information, presentation skills, and an exploration of community resources and volunteer opportunities.

This presentation analyzes the training evaluation results and discusses implications for future training programs.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning

Learning Objectives:
Describe the CHW training programs offered by Western MA Public Health Training Center (WMPHTC) Evaluate the results of CHW training programs Discuss how to design CHW training based on needs assessment

Keyword(s): Community Health Promoters, Chronic Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the program director of the Western MA Public Health Training Center, conducted the informal needs assessment, and provided the trainings to Community Health Workers.
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.