Evaluating the impact of a community health worker training program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Workforce Development
• Community Health

Background:

• The Atlanta Region Community Health Workforce Advancement (ARCHWAy) program trains Community Health Workers (CHWs).
• It centers marginalized voices and integrates theory with practical experience.
• The program addresses social determinants of health (SDOH) and promotes health equity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the ARCHWAy program's impact on CHW knowledge, skills, and competencies.
• To assess the program's effectiveness in preparing CHWs to address health challenges.
• To understand the role of experiential learning in CHW development.

Main Methods:

• Program evaluation using participant feedback from course evaluations and encounter logs.
• Assessment of knowledge, skills, and competencies gained through didactic and experiential learning.
• Analysis of CHW preparedness in managing mental health crises, chronic diseases, and healthcare access barriers.

Main Results:

• High participant ratings (4.5+/5) for both online and in-person didactic curricula.
• Experiential learning significantly improved CHW abilities in assessment, education, care coordination, and addressing SDOH.
• Participants reported enhanced skills in system navigation, trust-building, and patient empowerment for self-advocacy.

Conclusions:

• The ARCHWAy program successfully developed critical skills and strengthened the CHW workforce.
• Experiential learning and community-centered training are vital for CHW effectiveness.
• Sustained investment in CHW development, including long-term support and recognition, is crucial for continued impact.