The Development of a Novel, Standards-Based Core Curriculum for Community Facing, Clinic-Based Community Health...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Community Health Worker (CHW) training historically focused on community-based roles, not ongoing clinical settings.
• Existing training often supported short-term, grant-funded projects, lacking long-term clinical integration focus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a novel, standards-based training curriculum for clinic-based CHWs.
• To establish a framework for ongoing, professional development of CHWs within healthcare systems.

Main Methods:

• Consultation with national CHW experts and utilization of the CHW Consensus Project (C3 Project) standards.
• Integration of patient, healthcare team, and healthcare system stakeholder perspectives.
• Application of popular and adult learning principles, including a modified apprenticeship model and collaboration with clinical partners.

Main Results:

• A 10-module, standards-based curriculum was developed for clinic-based CHWs.
• Curriculum modules cover CHW professional identity and competencies, healthcare setting navigation, and understanding health determinants.
• The development process incorporated expert, stakeholder, and practical clinical insights.

Conclusions:

• Curriculum development should leverage CHW standards, existing materials, and participatory adult education principles.
• Training for clinical settings requires input from experienced clinical CHWs and consideration of organizational integration.
• Effective CHW training is crucial for successful integration into healthcare teams and systems.