How CHW Leadership Strengthens Certification: A View from Two States

A growing number of states are developing programs of certification for community health workers (CHWs), as evidence mounts from clinical and policy research that CHWs help improve quality outcomes and control costs as members of interdisciplinary care teams.  Meanwhile, certification has focused concerns of CHW leaders and other stakeholders on issues including potential loss of CHW identity and autonomy, under-appreciation of voluntary CHWs, over-medicalization of CHW functions, and respective roles for CHWs and licensed clinicians who provide home-based services. 

This presentation will describe strategies for designing certification processes to enhance the potential benefits of credentialing, considering workforce, provider, payer, training, and other stakeholder interests. It will draw on the varied experiences of Massachusetts and Florida to describe how CHWs can and should be involved in leading and participating in certification program development, design, and implementation.   Finally, it will define multiple, specific opportunities to address CHW workforce needs, making the case that empowered CHW participation is not only possible, but also essential to avoiding unintended negative consequences of certification.

This abstract was drafted by a long-time CHW ally who served as director of an APHA state affiliate and as a state health department senior manager.  It was edited by Massachusetts and Florida CHW leaders and health department officials.  The presenters will be selected depending on how much time is allocated for the presentation and will include at least one CHW per state.  The authors are flexible to combine slots within a session, if possible, to allow maximum opportunity for participant discussion.