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Community health workers: examining the Helper Therapy principle.
L A Roman1, J K Lindsay, J S Moore
1Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA. leeanne.roman@spectrum-health.org
Public Health Nursing (Boston, Mass.)
|May 13, 1999
Summary
Community Health Workers (CHWs) providing social support to low-income pregnant women reported significant benefits, including enhanced self-esteem and valuable experience. Some CHWs experienced stressors, highlighting the need for further assessment of the CHW role.
Area of Science:
- Community Health
- Maternal and Child Health
- Social Work Integration
Background:
- Community Integrated Service System (CISS) initiatives address health and social service integration for low-income pregnant women.
- A CISS program model trains low-income mothers as Community Health Workers (CHWs) to support at-risk pregnant women.
- The model incorporates Riessman's 'helper therapy' concept to foster benefits for CHWs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore perceived helper benefits and stressors in the CHW role.
- To evaluate the utility of an instrument designed to assess these benefits and stressors.
Main Methods:
- Exploratory study design.
- Data collection on CHW-perceived benefits and stressors.
- Preliminary analysis of the Helper's Perception Measure.
Main Results:
- Most CHWs reported benefits: positive self-perception, belonging, work experience, and access to health information/skills.
- Some CHWs experienced stressors, such as feelings of inadequacy.
- The Helper's Perception Measure showed preliminary effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- The CHW role offers substantial benefits for participants supporting at-risk pregnant women.
- Role-specific stressors exist and warrant attention.
- The Helper's Perception Measure shows promise for assessing CHW experiences.