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The Changing Roles of Community Health Workers
Author(s) -
Malcarney MaryBeth,
Pittman Patricia,
Quigley Leo,
Horton Katherine,
Seiler Naomi
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
health services research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.706
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1475-6773
pISSN - 0017-9124
DOI - 10.1111/1475-6773.12657
Subject(s) - workforce , certification , community health workers , context (archaeology) , health care , qualitative research , nursing , community health , public relations , medical education , medicine , business , health services , environmental health , public health , population , sociology , economic growth , political science , geography , social science , archaeology , law , economics
Objective To examine what different types of employers value in hiring community health workers ( CHW s) and determine what new competencies CHW s might need to meet workforce demands in the context of an evolving payment landscape and substantial literature suggesting that CHW s are uniquely qualified to address health disparities. Study Design We used a multimethod approach, including a literature review, development of a database of 76 programs, interviews with 24 key informants, and a qualitative comparison of major CHW competency lists. Principal Findings We find a shift in CHW employment settings from community‐based organizations to hospitals/health systems. Providers that hire CHW s directly, as opposed to partnering with community organizations, report that they value education and training more highly than traditional characteristics, such as peer status. We find substantial similarities across competency lists, but a gap in competencies that relate to CHW s’ ability to integrate into health systems while maintaining their unique identity. Conclusions As CHW integration into health care organizations advances, and as states move forward with CHW certification efforts, it is important to develop new competencies that relate to CHW –health system integration. Chief among them is the ability to explain and defend the CHW 's unique occupational identity.