1. West Texas AHEC CHW Workshop: A National Update
Carl H. Rush, MRP
Project on CHW Policy & Practice University of Texas – Houston, Institute for Health Policy

2. Federal agencies continue support for CHW strategies
CDC priority on support for policy and systems change
CDC and HRSA support for TA at state request
CDC 6|18 initiative
HRSA TA initiative for HIV/AIDS grantees
IHS initiative on replicating Alaska Community Health Aide/Practitioner model
5/10/16

3. National support
5/10/16

4. 5/10/16

5. 5/10/16

6. New partnership announced 4/25/17
…will focus on encouraging and helping hospitals and health systems to employ more CHWs
5/23/17

7. CHW certification and financing update
CDC national policy study (7 states)
8 states now have certification: AZ, FL, MA, NM, OH, OR, RI, TX
Other states moving: IL, KY, MO, NC, OK, PA
ND State Medicaid Plan Amendment: CHRs in Targeted Case Management
PA Medicaid: health plans may treat cost of CHWs as part of the cost of medical care – not admin
United Health Care: expanding reliance on CHWs in care coordination (demonstration project in Hawai’i)
5/10/16

8. CHW Core Consensus (C3) Project
2016 recommendations for a common set of Core Roles (scope of practice) and Core Skills
Common starting point for discussion of the workforce and development of public policy
Draft recommendations reviewed in 2015 by 25 state/local CHW associations across the U.S.
Current outreach to seek input, and encourage use of recommendations by state and national stakeholder groups and state governments
5/10/16

9. C3 2016 Recommendations on CHW Roles and Skills
CHW Skills
1. Cultural Mediation – Cross-Cultural Communication
1. Communication Skills
2. Culturally Appropriate Health Education
2. Interpersonal & relationship Building Skills
Care Coordination, Case Mgnt., System Navigation
3. Service Coordination and Navigation Skills
4. Providing Coaching and Social Support
4. Capacity Building Skills
5. Advocating for Individuals and Communities
5. Advocacy Skills
6. Building Individual and Community Capacity
6. Education and Facilitation Skills
7. Providing Direct Service
7. Individual and Community Assessment Skills
8. Implementing Individual &Community Assessments
8. Outreach Skills
9. Conducting Outreach
9. Professional Skills and Conduct
10. Participating in Evaluation and Research
10.Evaluation and Research Skills
11.Knowledge Base
5/4/17

10. National support commitments for C3 (to date)
American Nurses Association
National Association of Community Health Centers
American Diabetes Association
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing
Northwest Regional Primary Care Association
National Center for Health Housing
North Carolina Community Health Center Association
National Network of Public Health Institutes
Health Resources in Action
MHP Salud
5/10/16

11. More info on C3
Join mailing list:
Download 2016 Report:
Support for C3 has come from Sanofi-US, the Amgen Foundation, CDC and the National AHEC Organization (among others)
5/23/17

12. Unity Conference 2017!
“The Collective Power of CHWs, CHRs and Promotores” 
Dallas - Hilton Anatole, August 6-9
5/10/16

13. Thank you! Carl H. Rush, MRP carl.h.rush@uth.tmc.edu 210-775-2709
5/10/16