Three in 10 Miami-Dade County citizens lack health insurance of any kind the highest rate in Florida and many people experience a range of frustrations trying to arrange for health care for themselves, their children and loved ones. Community health workers play a pivotal role in linking underserved populations to the health-care services they seek and need.
“These workers truly are saving lives out there. Theyre connecting folks, people on the verge of serious [health] problems. In many cases, a community health worker reached out and now the people are healthy and taking care of themselves,” said Victor Jose Santana, Community Health Worker Coordinator for the Collins Center for Public Policy, Miami office.
In an effort to provide a seamless system of care for Miami-Dade County children, prenatal through adolescence and beyond, The Childrens Trust launched
HealthConnect in 2006. This comprehensive quality-driven health initiative is comprised of three components
HealthConnect In Our Community, HealthConnect In Our Schools and
HealthConnect The Early Years.
Through
HealthConnect In Our Community, 20 Community Health Workers and 25 Navigators (requires additional professional training) are identified by local agencies and strategically placed around the county.
These outreach coordinators and health paraprofessionals understand the health-care system; they are outgoing and intimately familiar with the neighborhoods they serve. They pound the sidewalks of their neighborhoods, frequenting cafeterias, bodegas, day-care centers wherever they can seeking to engage residents in conversation and help them resolve problems and better access the health-care system.
Coordinator Santana offers the example of Tracy Britten, a 23-year-old single mother and community health worker with the Overtown Human Services Coalition, as a successful prototype. Britten, Santana says, lacked experience when she started, but was very familiar with the Overtown community and its residents. With the support of other more experienced workers, Britten grew more confident and competent. “Now she turns in lots of data and has placed a lot of people in care,” Santana said.
Community health workers are a bridge between providers of health, social and community services and underserved, hard-to-reach populations of the community. They facilitate access to health insurance and to primary-care providers and health services, educate on health awareness, and, by providing for earlier access, decrease the need for emergency-room care and associated high costs.
Superior communication skills are essential. Community health workers are generally bilingual and trilingual as language is critical to generate trust and to communicate effectively.
To earn a Level I certificate, a prospective community health worker completes a 30-hour training program, then 15 hours of field-work practicum, shadowed by an instructor. The curriculum emphasizes cultural competency, confidentiality and legal issues, and potential ethical dilemmas. Students learn to recognize early warning signs for substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health, illegal activities, abuse and neglect. They are versed on making presentations, on establishing rapports and strengthening verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
On completion of the course and fieldwork, the candidate must pass an exam, administered two weeks after the training. The Childrens Trust assumes payment for the course.
Of the 58 graduates in this the first year, most were placed in jobs either through assistance from
HealthConnect In Our Community, Santana said, or with the aid of a Community Access Program (HIRSA) grant.
Miami-Dade College is considering adding a Community Health Worker certificate program to their Community Education program, and Community Voices Miami is currently developing curricula and criteria for Level II and III training.
A community health worker can expect to earn $27,000/year on average. Some agencies provide a benefits package.
In addition to connecting people to services, these outreach specialists play an advocacy role, Santana said. New security regulations have left many immigrants fearful, and hesitant to visit a clinic for fear of a raid. Community health workers counsel immigrants on their rights and in other many other areas such as domestic violence and substance abuse as well. .
Through the expanding efforts of
HealthConnect In Our Community and other initiatives, community health workers provide an essential service that promotes healthier living and unifies the fragmented health services in the community.
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