1. Public Health Foundations in Health Navigation Education
League for Innovation in the Community College
March 13, 2017
3:15 – 4:15
Peggy A. Honoré, DHA
AmeriHealth Caritas -
General Russel Honoré
Endowed Professor
Kaysie Schmidt
Health Navigator Faculty
Otero Jr College

2. Forum Objectives Provide definition of public health
Discuss growing national and global interest in Health Navigators
Describe results of workforce needs assessment
Describe emerging educational models to educate Lay Health Navigators with an underlying focus on foundations in public health principles

3. Definition of Public Health
Public Health Assures conditions for a healthy population Public Health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play. (APHA.org) Traditional roles in preventing and tracking disease outbreaks or educating about the risk of disease

4. Examples of Traditional Public Health Programs/Services
Health promotion and disease prevention
Health assessments using data analysis
Environmental Health inspections
Communicable Disease tracking
Vital Statistics (i.e., birth/death records)
Laboratory Services
Public awareness campaigns regarding chronic diseases (i.e., diabetes, hypertension)

5. Brings Public Health concepts to the healthcare team
Role of Community Colleges in Transitioning Public Health into new Clinical Program Delivery Models
Health Navigator
Brings Public Health concepts to the healthcare team

6. Next……….. Kaysie Schmidt will present on Colorado workforce needs assessment

7. Community Colleges and the Public Health Project
Development of an Educational Model for:
Health Navigator Associate applied Degree/Certificate
Health Navigator used as a generic term representing a degree title and not a job description
Curriculum built on Foundations of Public Health Principles i.e., Prevention, Population Health, Health Education/Promotion.
Designed to prepare graduates for employment as Patient Navigators, Community Health Workers, Health Insurance Navigators, and existing clinical workforce without public health training
Intent to educate health professionals with expertise and experience in assisting individuals and communities to navigate systems for community health, healthcare, and health insurance
Motivated by 3 movements in last 20 years for: Patient Navigators; Community Health Workers; ACA Health Insurance Navigators

9. Community Colleges Engagement
Awards for Excellence in Public Health and Health Navigation Education for coursework consistent with the ASPPH Community Colleges and Public Health report including “health foundations” courses
League organizing a Technical Assistance and Consulting (TAC) directory to assist community colleges
Richard Riegelman, 2017

10. Next….Kaysie Schmidt presents on the Otero Jr College Navigator Program

11. Thank You!