Network for East Network for East Texas Rural HealthTexas Rural Health

2010 Outreach Program and 2010 Outreach Program and Network Development Grantee Network Development Grantee

MeetingMeetingWashington, D.C.Washington, D.C.

August 2-4August 2-4

Program OverviewProgram Overview

• Network formationNetwork formation• Funding Funding • Hiring processHiring process• CHW training CHW training • Expanding the CHW programExpanding the CHW program• Evaluation, process tracking and Evaluation, process tracking and

data collectiondata collection• Challenges/lessons learnedChallenges/lessons learned

Network PartnersNetwork Partners

• Piney Woods Area Health Education Piney Woods Area Health Education CenterCenter

• Texas Department of State Health Services Texas Department of State Health Services (Public Health Service Region 4/5N)(Public Health Service Region 4/5N)

• East Texas Community Health ServicesEast Texas Community Health Services• East Texas Health Access Network East Texas Health Access Network

(ETHAN)(ETHAN)• Southeast Texas Regional Planning Southeast Texas Regional Planning

CommissionCommission– Southeast Health Access Network (SETHAN)Southeast Health Access Network (SETHAN)

Service AreaService Area

• The The service area service area includes Jasper, includes Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Red River, Sabine, Nacogdoches, Newton, Red River, Sabine, San Augustine, Tyler, and the rural areas San Augustine, Tyler, and the rural areas of Hardin, Jefferson and Orange counties.of Hardin, Jefferson and Orange counties.

  

FundingFunding

• Received Rural Health Network Received Rural Health Network Development Grant 9/1/08 – 4/30/11Development Grant 9/1/08 – 4/30/11

• Network partners contributed Network partners contributed resourcesresources

Who are the CHWsWho are the CHWs• They are carefully chosen community members who

participate in empowering trainings so they can help promote good health in their own communities.

• They are They are a strong link between their communities and health and social service providers.

• Network (contract vs. AHEC employee)Network (contract vs. AHEC employee)• Hiring processHiring process

– Develop CHW job descriptionDevelop CHW job description– Recruit applicants to applyRecruit applicants to apply

The CHW TrainingThe CHW Training

• CHWs trainedCHWs trained• CHW sites educatedCHW sites educated• New CHW Apprenticeable OccupationNew CHW Apprenticeable Occupation

Additional FundingAdditional Funding

• Opportunity to expand Opportunity to expand NetworkNetwork– Federal Social Services Federal Social Services

Block Grant awarded to Block Grant awarded to statestate

Process for site selectionProcess for site selection

• Identify sites CHW services can be Identify sites CHW services can be utilizedutilized– Maintain CHW after funding endsMaintain CHW after funding ends– Advocate for CHWsAdvocate for CHWs

• Contact potential sites to assess Contact potential sites to assess interestinterest– Schedule meeting to present the value of Schedule meeting to present the value of

CHWs CHWs

• Finalize CHW hiring processFinalize CHW hiring process

A B C

Network ExpansionNetwork Expansion

• Burke Center Mental HealthcareBurke Center Mental Healthcare• Cherokee County Health District (two Cherokee County Health District (two

clinics)clinics)• Head Start Child Development CenterHead Start Child Development Center• Hope Project (FQHC)Hope Project (FQHC)• Memorial Health Systems of East TexasMemorial Health Systems of East Texas• Nacogdoches Alcohol and Drug Abuse Nacogdoches Alcohol and Drug Abuse

CouncilCouncil• Nacogdoches Memorial HospitalNacogdoches Memorial Hospital

CHW RolesCHW RolesThe CHWs work duties vary by employment location, The CHWs work duties vary by employment location,

responsibilities can include:responsibilities can include:

• helping individuals, families, groups and communities helping individuals, families, groups and communities develop their capacity and access to resources including develop their capacity and access to resources including health insurance, food, housing, quality care and health health insurance, food, housing, quality care and health information;information;

• facilitating communication and individuals’ empowerment facilitating communication and individuals’ empowerment in interactions with health care/social service systems; in interactions with health care/social service systems;

• helping health care and social service systems become helping health care and social service systems become culturally relevant and responsive to their service culturally relevant and responsive to their service population; population;

• helping people understand their health condition(s) and helping people understand their health condition(s) and develop strategies to improve their health and well being; develop strategies to improve their health and well being;

• helping build understanding and social capital to support helping build understanding and social capital to support healthier behaviors and lifestyle choices among people; healthier behaviors and lifestyle choices among people;

CHW RolesCHW Roles• delivering health information using culturally delivering health information using culturally

appropriate terms and concepts; appropriate terms and concepts; • linking people to health care/social service linking people to health care/social service

resources;resources;• providing informal counseling, support and providing informal counseling, support and

follow-up; follow-up; • advocating for local health needs; advocating for local health needs; • providing health services, such as monitoring providing health services, such as monitoring

blood pressure and providing first aid;blood pressure and providing first aid;• Making home visits to chronically ill patients, Making home visits to chronically ill patients,

individuals at high risk of health problems, and individuals at high risk of health problems, and the elderly; andthe elderly; and

• Translating and interpreting for individuals and Translating and interpreting for individuals and health care/social service providershealth care/social service providers

Needs of Clients- ETHANNeeds of Clients- ETHAN• Medical homeMedical home• Dental servicesDental services

• Information and referralInformation and referral• Within an emergency medical Within an emergency medical

situationsituation• Medication assistance (MAP)Medication assistance (MAP)• Managing Diabetes or chronic Managing Diabetes or chronic

diseasedisease• Smoking cessationSmoking cessation

• Changing living situationChanging living situation• Health educationHealth education

• Medical equipment Medical equipment (Health Equipment Loan Program)(Health Equipment Loan Program)

SuccessesSuccesses

• Network formedNetwork formed• Network expansionNetwork expansion• Piney Woods AHEC CHW instructors Piney Woods AHEC CHW instructors

trainedtrained• Training siteTraining site• Increased employment opportunities for Increased employment opportunities for

East TexasEast Texas• CHW recognized as apprenticeableCHW recognized as apprenticeable

– Coastal AHEC submitted to U.S. Department of LaborCoastal AHEC submitted to U.S. Department of Labor

Evaluation, process Evaluation, process tracking and data collectiontracking and data collection• Identify ways to better address the healthcare Identify ways to better address the healthcare

needs of the target population needs of the target population – ETCHNAETCHNA

• Uniform data collection formsUniform data collection forms• Demonstrate program successesDemonstrate program successes

– (“If it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen!”)(“If it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen!”)

• Identify areas to promote CHW professional Identify areas to promote CHW professional developmentdevelopment

– Provides quality controlProvides quality control

• Help secure funding Help secure funding – Provides the necessary data to show the need, return Provides the necessary data to show the need, return

on investment, and potential for improved outcomeson investment, and potential for improved outcomes

Challenges/Lessons Challenges/Lessons LearnedLearned

• Under-estimating time commitmentUnder-estimating time commitment• Educating healthcare community on Educating healthcare community on

CHW capabilitiesCHW capabilities• Integrating the CHWs into the work Integrating the CHWs into the work

placeplace• Surviving program expansionSurviving program expansion

Janis S. Ritter, MEdJanis S. Ritter, MEdCenter DirectorCenter Director

Lurah Bryant, CHWLurah Bryant, CHWProgram CoordinatorProgram Coordinator

Piney Woods AHECPiney Woods AHECNacogdoches, TXNacogdoches, TX

936-468-6901936-468-6901www.pwahec.orgwww.pwahec.org