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www.PosterPresentations.com
STATEWIDE VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION
Florida Community Health Worker Coalition
Brendaly Rodríguez, MA, Co-President, FL CHW Coalition Inc., UM/CTSI-CECD
Lisa Hamilton, PHD, Co-President, FL CHW Coalition Inc.
Marion Banzhaf, BA, Policy, Environment & Systems (PES) Change Program Director, FL-DOH
A statewide partnership dedicated to the support
and promotion of the CHW profession in Florida.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
MISSION
INTRODUCTION
NEXT STEPS
Marion Banzhaf, Program Director,
Policy, Environment & Systems Change
Florida Department of Health
E-mail: marion.banzhaf@flhealth.gov
www.FloridaCHW.org
METHODS
Using a PSE approach, the Florida Department of
Health Cancer Program identified Community Health
Workers (CHWs) as an evidence-based strategy to
increase access to care and reduce health
disparities. From a Taskforce, monthly conference
calls of CHWs and interested stakeholders resulted
in establishing the Florida CHW Coalition in 2011.
• The Department assembled a task force of
identified stakeholders, held monthly calls
• Taskforce subgroups established:
• Policy
• Curriculum & Practice
• Networking/Membership
• Research
• Department facilitation/coordination
• Over 780 Coalition members state wide
• Policy maker education, bills filed 2012-2015
• 10 minute promotional video on website
• 6 Annual Summits to date
• Over 10 city CHW recognition Proclamations
• National curriculum review and statewide core
competency survey
• Voluntary certification by the FL Certification
Board: over 425 Certified CHWs to date!
• Posters & roundtable presentations at regional
and national conferences (APHA, UNITY)
• FL CHW Census: 2014 and 2015 data
• Coalition website, Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/FloridaCHWCoalition
• Fiscal agent established and by-laws finalized
• Board of Directors structure and 501c3 status
• Transition to self sufficient organization
• Dialogue with nurses, navigators, healthcare plans
• Regular schedule of meetings/calls for full coalition
and for subgroups: Please join!
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Women’s Health Leadership Institute
English, Orlando, September 2012
Women’s Health Leadership Institute
Spanish, Miami, June 2013
WHO IS A CHW?
“A CHW is a frontline health worker who is a
trusted member of and/or has an unusually
close understanding of the community served.
This trusting relationship enables the CHW to serve
as a link between services and the community to
facilitate access to services and improve the quality
and cultural competence of service delivery,”
American Public Health Association CHW Section.
Also called: Promotoras de salud, lay health worker, peer
educator, community health representative, peer counselor,
outreach worker, community connector, among others
Through the Florida Certification Board
www.flcertificationboard.org
Private, non-profit organization established in 1983
Issues 32 different credentials, maintains certified population of 28,000
Certification of CHWs = document at least 500 hours experience, 30 hours education in last 5 years
Grandparenting period for paid and volunteer CHWs from Jan 1st-June 30th, 2016: exam waived
Credential valid for 2 years, $50 application fee
10 CEUs needed for credential renewal every 2 years
Defined CHW Roles & Activities:
• Bridging cultural differences between communities and health/social service systems
• Providing culturally appropriate health education and information
• Assuring that people get the services they need
• Providing health information and social support
• Advocating (speaking up) for individual and community needs
• Providing basic culturally appropriate health education
• Building individual and community capacity
Wiggins, N. & Borbon, I.A. (1998). Core roles and competencies of community health workers.
In Final report of the National Community Health Advisor Study (pp. 15-49). Baltimore, MD: Annie E. Casey Foundation
CORE COMPETENCIES
www.FloridaCHW.org
• Medicaid State Plan Amendment to allow for
CHW payment for preventive services
• Publicize certification
• Support of regional networks activities
• Creating communities of interest within FCHWC
• Secure sustainable funding sources
• Communication and Education (5 job tasks)
• Resources (4 job tasks)
• Advocacy (5 job tasks)
• Foundations of Health (7 job tasks)
• Professional Responsibility (7 job tasks)
CONTACT
Certified CHWs in 2015
Distinguished CHW Recognition to
CHW Sornia Joseph by Co-Presidents
4th Annual Summit, Orlando, Sept. 2014
First Co-Chairs signing Charter
Tallahassee, 2nd Annual Summit, June 2012
Certification Launch Events and
Recognition of Certified CHWs
Miami, Orlando and Tallahassee
January 27, 2015