Preparing Chws for Their Role As Agents of Social Change

Preparing CHWs for Their Role as Agents of Social Change

11/15/13

What do we already know or imagine about CHWs?

·  You guys are it!

·  From the community

·  Shared life experience

·  Bring a broad, different perspective of health

·  Intelligent bridge to access health care services

·  Facilitate non – clinical services

How does training influence the roles CHWs play?

·  Gives us tools to advocate for community

·  First step to help clients or community

·  Gave her hope for her community and pathway to career

·  Establish credibility and strength, presence

·  Provides framework you can build on

·  Influences knowledge we have

·  Confidence to know what you are doing

·  Different techniques of communication

·  Affects understanding of role

·  If not comprehensive, might leave you wondering what to do

·  To build networks

·  Helps employer understand importance

·  Didn’t want a curriculum before; significant change in attitude made it more widely available

·  Contradictions of state recognition

·  We are all big pieces of a puzzle

·  It’s an evolving journey – it takes advocacy and everyone’s voice

·  Empowerment – to promote health, sense of wellbeing, diversity

·  Not just individuals who don’t feel understood

·  Need to continue to have camaraderie

·  There is a lot to be done

How can we apply what we have learned?

·  Advocate for our patients and for us

·  Client will take lead

·  Find ways to be one of those who are certified

·  Think outside box of conventional role

·  Training recommendations inform a training we will provide à set folks up for success; understand full role of CHW

·  Values à we need to reflect to see if we are doing it

·  How to call on cultural experience

·  See people from A à Z

·  Language shift of demand for recognition patient – driven

Evaluation

Liked / Could be improved
·  Learn history, very powerful
·  Standardized curriculum for CHWs and supervisors
·  Diversity of different backgrounds
·  Synergy of peers
·  Modeling popular education
·  Passion, commitment
·  Dinámicas / ·  Bigger room
·  More time
·  Different pen colors
·  Break out session to flesh out ideas
·  Post notes on CCC website