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

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.