F. Zacarías, C. Schaub, M. F. Zacarías, C. Schaub, M. BarriosBarrios

(August 28, 2014, (August 28, 2014, Washington, D.C.) Washington, D.C.)

What are CHNs?What will CHNs do?How will CHNs be selected?How will CHNs be trained?Where will CHNs be deployed?How will CHNs be supported?

COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMUNITY HEALTH NAVIGATORSNAVIGATORS

(Questions to be answered in this (Questions to be answered in this seminar)seminar)

Leadership

Management

Solutions!!!

JUSTIFICATION: what is missing JUSTIFICATION: what is missing in (some, many, a few) in (some, many, a few)

communities?communities?

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish and you feed him for life.

Show people how to solve problems and they will feed themselves (even if there’s

no fish)

WHAT IS NEEDED? (community WHAT IS NEEDED? (community empowerment)empowerment)

The CHN is a problem-solver, a catalyst and agent of change who provides orientation and advice to (individuals, families and) communities, and helps them asses their needs, understand their rights, and access, navigate and benefit from the best possible and available health services and social development opportunities in order to improve their health and welfare.

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY HEALTH WHAT IS A COMMUNITY HEALTH NAVIGATOR?NAVIGATOR?

COMMUNITY HEALTH

NAVIGATOR

Agricultural Extension

Agent

Development Worker

Micro-financing Advisor

Community Health

Worker

Social Mobilization

WorkerCommunity Educator

Health and

Patient Navigator

Social Worker

Type of worker Description Functions Special Characteristics

Community Health Worker

Frontline public health worker

Provides health care and increases health knowledge and self-sufficiency of the community

Member of the community supported by the health system but not necessarily a part of its organization

Development Worker

Community organizer focused on economic development

Builds capacity, advocates, and identifies assets, needs, opportunities, rights and responsibilities of the community

Commitment to social justice; flexibility, resourcefulness, resilience and sensitivity and respect for diversity

Social Mobilization Worker

Social and political development agent

Strengthens multi-sectoral participation in local decision-making, improves access to social and production services and increases efficiency in the use of locally available financial resources

Ability to motivate and inspire people to act and participate in the political process

Agricultural Extension Agent

Specialist in environmental/agricultural/ veterinary issues

Provides leadership in determining, implementing, and evaluating educational programs designed to solve social, economic, and environmental problems in agriculture and natural resources

Knowledge of best agricultural and environmental practices

Micro-financing Advisor

Source of financial services for entrepreneurs and  small businesses

Provides advice and means for permanent access to necessary financial services

Good knowledge of business, finance and/or economics

Community Educator

Promoter of learning and social development of the community

Creates a learning environment and educates the community on ways to achieve better living conditions

Knowledge of cultural differences and a clear understanding of behavior change and community-based education

Type of worker Description Functions Special Characteristics

Community Health Worker

Frontline public health worker

Provides health care and increases health knowledge and self-sufficiency of the community

Member of the community supported by the health system but not necessarily a part of its organization

Social Worker Professional who helps people increase their capacities for problem-solving, coping, and obtaining resources to improve their lives

Seeks to improve the well-being of individuals, groups, and communities through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, crisis intervention, and teaching

Ability to analyze complex situations and patience and flexibility to adequately address those situations

Health and Patient Navigator

Specialized and focused on removing barriers in accessing and using health services

Promotes health literacy and Identifies and alleviates financial and logistical barriers to care of chronic, severe, and complex health problems, such as cancer, diabetes and others

Good understanding of the infrastructure, financing and functions of all services within the health system

Community Health Navigator

A problem-solver, connector, advocate, “ knowledgeable authority”, facilitator and agent of change

Provides orientation and advice to i communities and helps them structure, navigate and benefit from the best available health services and social development opportunities in order to improve their health and welfare

Wide and clear understanding of community health and development from a health and social determinants perspective and a multi-sectoral vision and approach.

What will CHNs do?What will CHNs do?

Guidance and leadership

Advising (problem-solving)

Information gathering and dissemination

Advocacy, negotiation, and resource

mobilization

Management methods

Specific subjects, as needed

What should CHNs learn?What should CHNs learn?

AGE: legal age

EDUCATION: minimum ten years LANGUAGE(S): full fluency required

EXPERIENCE: relevant (minimum 2 years)

SENSIBILITY: cultural, gender, political, religious

ATTITUDE and commitment

ABILITY to master new knowledge, skills and technology

INTELLIGENCE: intra- and interpersonal

How will CHNs be How will CHNs be selected? selected?

Where they are needed;

Where they are wanted;

Where they are matched based on their abilities and the specific needs of the community;

Where they can be afforded.

Where will CHNs be Where will CHNs be deployed?deployed?

What support do CHNs What support do CHNs need?need?

Riding a bicycle

Drawing lines, curves and dots

(writing)

Swimming

““FOREVER” SKILLS (what FOREVER” SKILLS (what you won’t forget)you won’t forget)

Все люди рождаются

Engage (how to connect, lead, advocate)

Plan (ability to imagine, strategic thinking)

Negotiate (bargaining and persuasion

power)

Manage (organizing the right people –

including self - to do the right thing at the

right time, to obtain the right results)

* (to be successful)

““FOREVER” FOREVER” COMPETENCIES (that COMPETENCIES (that CHNs should have)*CHNs should have)*

TIMELINE(approximate)

INITIAL PHASE (research)

(2015-2019)

EXECUTION(development)

EXTENSION

(2020- )

(2016- )

Promoter

Advisor

Advocate

Guide

WHAT’S IN A NAME?WHAT’S IN A NAME?Community HealthCommunity Health……

Navigator

Connector

Trainer

Specialist

Facilitator

Assistant

Planner

Other

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

ANSWERS TO ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?