United States of America

Implementation costs of a community health worker delivered weight loss intervention in black churches serving underserved communities

Black communities experience higher rates of obesity than others, increasing risk for diabetes and other weight-related health conditions. Karen Kim Yeary and colleagues assessed the cost of implementing a CHW-led Diabetes Prevention Program adapted for rural black communities. Participants across 31 churches received a 16-session weight loss information over a six month … [Read more...] about Implementation costs of a community health worker delivered weight loss intervention in black churches serving underserved communities

Promotoras de salud and community health representatives along the Arizona U.S.-Mexico border collaboratively developed CHW Voluntary Certification to improve the status, credibility, compensation, and standardization of CHWs. Implementation of this program required overcoming historical resistance from the state legislature toward creation of state-wide regulations. This case … [Read more...] about Establishing voluntary certification of community health workers in Arizona: a policy case study of building a unified workforce.

The best mode of CHW-supported health care for low income, Hispanic patients remains an understudied area of research. Barbara Turner and colleagues assessed health outcomes among Texan, Hispanic patients experiencing Diabetes Mellitus. They followed patients for six months following care management received from CHWs either by telephone only, during clinic visits without … [Read more...] about Telephone or Visit-Based Community Health Worker Care Management for Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus: A Longitudinal Study

Members of the Navajo Nation receive home care, health education, and community health promotion from Community Health Representatives (CHRs). CHRs undergo specialized training under the COPE Intervention provided by Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment (COPE) to learn Motivational Interviewing and other culturally appropriate strategies to connect with local community … [Read more...] about Qualitative evaluation of a community health representative program on patient experiences in Navajo Nation.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of the US healthcare system and the impacts of underinvestment in public health. Hobert Goldfield and colleagues outlined several state responses to the virus and the importance of CHWs in reducing its spread. The researchers called for governments to recruit greater CHW engagement in state response planning. … [Read more...] about COVID-19 crisis creates opportunities for community-centered population health: Community health workers at the center