Peers for Progress Newsletter Archive - August 20 2014 Newsletter Copy

Latino Communities Spur Growth of CHWs

Peers for Progress Newsletter

August 20, 2014

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the community health worker (CHW) workforce is expected to increase by 25% in the next 8 years. This growth is being led by Latino communities that have already achieved great strides using the CHW model.

In support of CHW programs on the ground, an expanding body of research (see Research Briefs below) confirms that CHWs will be playing even bigger roles in Latino health in the years to come. The evidence gives us strong reasons to champion CHWs as a strategy for alleviating Latino health disparities.

To learn more about the history of CHWs, we recommend checking out MHP’s informative timeline, found here.

Spotlight

Mobile Technology Boosts MHP’s CHW Impact in Underserved Latino Communities

mHealth adoption is spreading in CHW programs across the country. The latest example comes from MHP Salud as they seek to streamline data collection and improve the efficiency of their CHW services. MHP has over 30 years of experience working with CHWs to advance Latino health. [Read more]

Program Resources

An Inside Look at Chronic Disease and Health Care among Hispanics in the United States

NCLR and partners designed and implemented a study called the Hispanic Health and Chronic Disease Survey, which gathered information about the rates of chronic disease among Latino health center users, their barriers to and motivators of chronic disease prevention and management, and the roles of health care providers and community resources in helping Latinos manage their conditions. [Read more]

The Diabetes Toolkit from the Diabetes Equity Project

The Diabetes Equity Project (DEP) in Dallas, TX just launched an online toolkit based on their experience with type 2 diabetes management and care delivery. The website includes diabetes education materials for patients, resources for implementing the CHW model for providers, and published articles and presentations describing successful elements of the DEP and project outcomes for policy makers. [Read more]

Presentations from the 5th Annual Patient Navigator/Community Health Worker Conference

The Patient Navigator/Community Health Worker conference series provides professional development and networking opportunities, along with tools, resources, and practical skills building sessions. Scroll down this page to download presentations from this year’s event. [Read more]

Research Briefs

Mexican American Trial of CHWs: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a CHW Intervention for Mexican Americans with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The Mexican American Trial of Community Health Workers (MATCH) followed 144 participants in metropolitan Chicago over 2 years to assess whether CHWs could improve glycemic control. Participants showed significantly lower HbA1c at both year one and year two, but no effect was observed for blood pressure control, glucose self-monitoring, or adherence to medications or diet. MATCH adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of CHWs to reduce diabetes-related health disparities. [Abstract]

Engaging Men as Promotores de Salud: Perceptions of Community Health Workers Among Latino Men in North Carolina

The promotor de salud role is highly feminized and little is known about how men view their participation in CHW programs. Investigators conducted in-depth interviews with 15 Latino men in North Carolina to explore this gap. Efforts to increase male participation in CHW programs in new Latino immigrant destinations will need to understand and address the gender and migration-related dynamics in order to engage both women and men in improving the health of their communities. [Abstract]

Community Health Workers as an Integral Strategy in the REACH U.S. Program to Eliminate Health Inequities

CHWs made substantial and lasting contributions to 22 Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) programs funded by the CDC from 2007-2012. CHWs helped the programs meet differing needs across communities in a culturally appropriate manner. The development of the CHW workforce has fostered important individual community-level changes geared to increase health equity. CHWs served a vital role in facilitating and leading changes and will continue to do so. [Abstract]

Critical Reflections on the Role of CBPR within an RCT Community Health Worker Prevention Intervention

To demonstrate how community-based participatory research (CBPR) has been successfully blended with randomized control trial (RCT) methodology, the authors showcase a RCT trial integrated with CHWs that has shown efficacy in reducing cardiovascular risk factors. This article describes the process of merging the CBPR approach within an RCT framework and describes lessons learned in conducting CBPR-RCT research initiatives. [Abstract]

Funding Opportunities

AHRQ Health Services Research Projects (R01)

Deadline: October 5, 2014
Funds: $250,000 annually / Max 5 years

AHRQ supports research, supports demonstration projects, and disseminates information on health care and on systems for the delivery of such care, including activities with respect to the quality, effectiveness, efficiency, appropriateness, and value of health care services. This award will support a discrete, specified health services research project that relates to the priority research interests of AHRQ. [Read more]

Behavioral Interventions to Address Multiple Chronic Health Conditions in Primary Care (R01)

Deadline: October 5, 2014
Funds: Not limited / Max 5 years

This FOA will support research in primary care that uses a multi-disease care management approach to behavioral interventions with high potential impact to improve patient-level health outcomes for individuals with three or more chronic health conditions. The proposed approach must modify behaviors using a common approach rather than administering a distinct intervention for each targeted behavior and/or condition. [Read more]

Community Partnerships to Advance Research (R01)

Deadline: October 5, 2014
Funds: Not limited / Max 5 years

The purpose of the funding opportunity is to stimulate researchers to partner with communities using Community Engaged Research (CEnR) methodologies that will enhance relationships leading to better interventions and positive health outcomes. [Read more]

Family-Centered Self-Management of Chronic Conditions (R21)

Deadline: October 16, 2014
Funds: $275,000 total / 2 years

The purpose of this FOA is to encourage research that seeks to build the science of family-centered self-management (FCSM) in chronic conditions. FCSM recognizes and addresses family needs and preferences, and integrates family members as partners in care while promoting individual self-management. [Read more]

IN THIS ISSUE

Spotlight

Program Resources

Research Briefs

Funding Opportunities

Meetings and Events

Please forward this e-newsletter to an interested colleague

FEATURES

Mobile Technology Boosts MHP’s CHW Impact in Underserved Latino Communities

MEETINGS & EVENTS

NAMI 2014 National Convention (September 3-6 in Washington, D.C.)

AAFP National Assembly (October 21-25 in Washington, D.C.)

APHA 142nd Annual Meeting (November 15-19 in New Orleans, LA)