Community Health Worker Programs: “Call for Input” Listening Sessions

November 13, 2020 · NCQA Communications

You’re invited to help inform the development of National Standards for Community Health Worker Programs.

Why is this important?

Now more than ever, community health workers (CHWs) are relied on to provide holistic, personalized care to individuals and families as part of the solution to improve health equity in the United States. As the CHW workforce continues to grow, organizations may not know how to support CHWs to ensure they do their best work in providing care to the communities they serve. That’s where NCQA and partners come in.

In partnership with Penn Center for Community Health Workers (PCCHW), NCQA is developing national standards on program elements for organizations that hire, contract or partner with CHWs. These standards will serve as a roadmap for organizations to create work conditions that elevate CHWs to do their best work. These standards will help to sustain the CHW workforce and help CHW programs be recognized as a valuable part of the health and social service systems.

Where do you come in?

Register now for our virtual “Call for Input” Listening Sessions. The Listening Sessions are a series of four Zoom meetings, each geared toward specific participant groups: CHWs; community-based organizations; health care organizations/health plans; and researchers/government officials.

Participants will engage in rich discussions and provide insights on what elements would ensure a sustainable CHW workforce and successful CHW programs.

Insights gathered from these Listening Sessions, along with input from the project’s multidisciplinary Steering Committee and evidence from published literature, will inform the development of the national standards, which will be featured in a white paper available in early 2021.

Please help spread the word to your colleagues about the following Listening Sessions each group mentioned:

Listening Session for Community Health Workers

Intended Participants: Individuals who identify as community health workers, promotores, doulas, or community health representatives who currently serve individuals and families.

Tuesday, November 17, 3:00 – 5:00 pm ET
http://bit.ly/CHWSession

Listening Session for Community-Based Organizations

Intended Participants: Individuals in leadership and/or supervisory roles in community-based organizations that hire, employ, or contract with CHWs.
Friday, November 20, 12:30 – 2:30 pm ET
https://bit.ly/CommunityBasedOrgSession

Listening Session for Health Care Organizations & Health Plans

Intended Participants: Individuals in leadership and/or supervisory roles in health care organizations (e.g., physician practices, community health centers, hospitals, among other settings) or health plans that hire, employ, or contract with CHWs.
Tuesday, December 1, 2:00 – 4:00 pm ET
http://bit.ly/HealthCareOrgSession

Listening Session for Researchers & Governmental Officials
Intended Participants: Individuals who conduct research related to CHWs and CHW programs, as well as individuals who are federal, state, or municipal government officials working with CHWs or on CHW programs.

Wednesday, December 2, 1:00 – 3:00 pm ET
http://bit.ly/ResearchGovSession

We look forward to seeing you there!

This project is funded by the Commonwealth Fund and the Community Partnership Acceleration Program (CHAP).