community health workers as essential partners to promote health equity lisa renee holderby...
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Community Health Workers As Essential Partners To Promote Health Equity Lisa Renee Holderby Director, Health Equity Community Catalyst November 12, 2010
Community Catalyst, Inc.
30 Winter Street, 10th Fl.
Boston, MA 02108
617-338-6035
Fax: 617-451-5838
www.communitycatalyst.org
Presented by:Lisa Renee Holderby
Electronic copies of this presentation are available by calling 617-338-6035. Organizations seeking to distribute or otherwise make widespread use of this publication are asked to notify Community Catalyst.
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit advocacy organization that works with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers and foundations to build consumer and community leadership to improve the health care system.
We support consumer advocacy networks that impact state and federal health care policy, and ensure consumers have a seat at the table as health care decisions are made.
© Community Catalyst 2010
About Community Catalyst
Who Are Community Health Workers (CHWs)?
© Community Catalyst 2010
“What makes me different from the people I work with, my colleagues? I am who I serve.”
CHW from Springfield, MA
© Community Catalyst 2010
© Community Catalyst 2010
Community Health Workers
• frontline public health worker• trusted member of and/or has an unusually close
understanding of the community she/he serves • liaison/link/intermediary between health/social
services and the community • facilitate access• builds health knowledge in communities and
individuals
© Community Catalyst 2010
CHWs included in the ACA
Community Health Workers in Primary Care and Prevention
© Community Catalyst 2010
“We are meeting people where they are, just like a taxi, you know. We pick you up where you are and take you where you want to go.”
CHW from Boston, MA
© Community Catalyst 2010
Increase Access to Care
• Health insurance enrollment• Link communities to primary care • Increase the use of preventative care• Provide assistance to navigate the health care
system
© Community Catalyst 2010
Improving Quality
• Improve communication between providers and patients
• Enhance culturally appropriate services• Provide ongoing chronic disease self
management skills• Enhance patient satisfaction with health care
and support service providers
© Community Catalyst 2010
Promoting Health Equity
• Improve health outcomes for vulnerable and underserved populations
• Address social determinants of health• Assist communities to organize to address
root causes of health inequities
Supporting Community Health Workers
© Community Catalyst 2010
© Community Catalyst 2010
How Can You Support CHWs?
• Advocate for CHWs to be integrated into health care and human service teams and incorporated into newly created medical homes
• Seek sustainable funding for CHW programs and initiatives
• Encourage all funders and employers to adopt the community health worker term
• Support CHW organizations and CHW leadership development
© Community Catalyst 2010
Community Health Workers in MassachusettsImproving Health Care and Public Health
Report of the Massachusetts Department of Public HealthCommunity Health Worker Advisory Council
Deval Patrick, GovernorJudyAnn Bigby, MD, Secretary of Health and Human Services
John Auerbach, Commissioner of Public Health
December, 2009
Questions?
© Community Catalyst 2010
Lisa Renee HolderbyDirector, Health EquityCommunity CatalystNovember 12, 2010
Community health Workers As essential Partners to Promote Health Equity