Author: Lucille Cassis

Positioning Community Health & Social Workers to Address Older Adults’ Social Needs

From “The Better Care Playbook”
Date/Time of Webinar:  Monday, April 5, 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET
Register here:
https://chcs.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ldwjgW6_QSOjUJjs3hwGNg


Team-based care models that maximize the roles of social workers and community health workers (CHWs) can improve outcomes for older adults with complex health and social needs. As health systems and health plans explore incorporating these positions into care teams, they need to identify how to best structure these positions and how to sustain these models for the long-term to address the deep complexity of patient needs.

SCAN Health Plan in California developed Connecting Provider to Home (CP2H), a community-based intervention embedded in primary care practices and led by a social worker and CHW, to address unmet social needs of older adults. In a recently published study comparing program enrollees to a control group, this program was associated with significant reductions in acute care use and improved patient satisfaction, quality of care, and communication from the CHW-social worker care team.

The 60-minute webinar, hosted by the Better Care Playbook and made possible through support from the Seven Foundation Collaborative, will share practical implementation considerations of the CP2H program that could support other health plans and provider groups in developing community-based care models that use the strengths of social workers and CHWs.

This webinar is part of a new Better Care Playbook series, Inside Complex Care, that is showcasing models or tools with demonstrated evidence, taking a practical look at implementation logistics to help spread promising and evidence-based strategies. Ample opportunities will be available for participant questions.

Advocacy for Future Covid Funding – ACT NOW!


The National Association of Community Health Workers has witnessed the compassion, commitment, and character of CHWs and CBOS who have been on the frontlines of Covid-19 response in some of the hardest hit communities over the past two years.

Masks, tests, vaccines, and access to monoclonal antibodies have been critical for us to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants, keep our communities safe, our schools and businesses open and to treat those who become ill!

The WH plan FACT SHEET: Consequences of Lack of Funding for Efforts to Combat COVID-19 if Congress Does Not Act | The White House confirms that without this critical action from Congress and funding to combat COVID-19, we’ll be without free vaccines and treatments and unable to monitor new variants.

Use this tool developed by “Be a Hero,” to sign a letter in support of additional COVID-19 funding and send letters to your Senators and Representative. The petition is at https://heroes.win/COVID. When people sign this petition, it will automatically email their Congressional members!

Alzheimer’s Assoc 30-min Education Programs in Spanish and English

Currently, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and over 11 million provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Unfortunately the prevalence is higher in the Black/African American and Hispanic communities, and the Alzheimer’s Association is working to address these gaps and raise awareness by providing education and support to the millions who face dementia every day, while advancing critical research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.

The Alzheimer’s Association offers a 24/7 Helpline (800-272-3900) for confidential support and information in over 200 languages, education programs, support groups, connection to dementia and aging-related resources, and online access to information and resources on our website alz.org/MANH

The association also offers 30-minute education programs in Spanish and English about the warning signs of Alzheimer’s, disease information and brain health. These programs can be virtual, by phone, or in-person.

Next free virtual event: the New England Family Caregiver Conference, on March 4th and 5th, with a special session in Spanish on March 5th featuring a panel of caregivers (please see attached flyer) AlzTalks Flyer Feb 2022

Black History Month

The pandemic has revealed what we in public health have known for some time; there are real divisions in the way we address health care in our country. Sadly, these disparities were never more evident in the way people of color suffered under the clutches of COVID-19, in all its forms. We can do better. With the professionalism, training and incredible network offered through our association, we strive each day to break down barriers to quality health care through the incredible commitment of Community Health Workers (CHWs). As we celebrate the important history of the Black community this month, let us not forget the sacrifices made, and yet how far we have to go to ensure everyone has access to quality health care. CHWs make this happen every day! Thank you for your hard work and dedication!

Sincerely,
Lissette Blondet,
Executive Director, MACHW

FREE Webinar: ‘Telehealth and the Impact of CHWs’ Feb 8th at 12:00 PM

4-Part Webinar Series: The Role of Telehealth in Expanding Access to Health Care and Social Services:
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs(IEA) invites you to a free webinar:
Feb 8, 2022 at 12:00 PM: “Telehealth add the Impact of Community Health Workers(CHWs)”

The rapid expansion of telehealth services to access health care during the COVID19 pandemic raised concerns of widening gaps in health equity among populations at risk. This 4-part webinar series will address these concerns by identifying barriers and by highlighting sustainable models that have reduced inequalities and improved health outcomes. Presenters will describe the role of telehealth and what staffing, programmatic, and process changes have been implemented to increase access to health care, and social services.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the unique challenges rural communities face in social vulnerability in addition to issues in access to specialty care and comprehensive services that may be mitigated through CHW’s skills in navigating health related social needs and resources to support chronic care management and behavioral health interventions.
  • Gain awareness of the strengths and limitations of prominent solutions to fill provider vacancies due to barriers in infrastructure, capacity, and patient resistance.
  • Understand the history of the CHWs’ role in team-based care in rural communities in addition to opportunities for their individual advancement through policy and workforce development; with telehealth as a potential vehicle to their increased participation.
  • Describe lessons learned in implementing, revising, and sustaining CHW programs financially featuring perspectives on state-wide reimbursement channels versus provider and practice ROI.

 Featured Speakers

  • CAPT Christopher Bersani, PsyD, ABPP, Deputy Regional Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, Region 1 Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Danielle Louder, Program Director, Northeast Telehealth Resource Center, Augusta, Maine.
  • Anne Perry, MPH Candidate Boston University School of Public Health, Boston Massachusetts
  • Reid Plimpton, Project Manager, Northeast Telehealth Resource Center, Augusta, Maine
  • Kari White, Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) Director of Quality Initiatives, Compliance and Privacy Officer, St Johnsbury, Vermont

Webinar Moderator:
 Veronica Roa, Public Health Analyst, Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, Region 1 Boston, Massachusetts

REGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2016426090963/WN_TRLf174ZSQCROsfZXc0cBw

This webinar is a close collaboration between HRSA IEA Region 1 and the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center. The series’ goal is to highlight sustainable models of telehealth and best practices to increase access to health care and reduce health disparities. The PowerPoint presentations of The Role of Telehealth in Expanding Access to Health Care and Social Services webinar series will be e-mailed to all participants. For more information about the series, contact Veronica Roa at [email protected]. For more resources and tools about telehealth, visit: https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/telehealth/index.html.

FREE Rapid COVID Tests Available – Visit NACHW Website

Visit the National Association of Community Health Workers website for important education and information on how to obtain FREE rapid COVID tests:

Here are the priority zip codes:
 Remember to add the “0” (zero) to the beginning of the zip code. Example, 2111 should be 02111. For the next two days, these are the zip codes where the White House is prioritizing access to the ordering website.


Community Health Workers Training Program – William James College

 In partnership with the Justice Research Institute, the Center for Workforce Development (CWD) at William James College  is launching a Community Health Workers (CHW) Training Program in January 2022. Funded by a 4-year federal grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration, the CHW Training seeks to recruit and train Community Health Workers and expand partnerships with local agencies and community health centers that offer team-based care in integrated primary care settings. One of the goals of the program is to increase knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the specific concerns of children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth in high need and high demand areas who are at risk for behavioral health disorders. The CHW Training Program is a full-time paid field work experience at a community-based agency paired with mentorship, career counseling, and professional development activities. In addition to the annual salaries offered by partner agencies, the program provides a $5,000 stipend to each participant for living expenses. The CHW Training Program also offers an 80-hour training that will prepare participants to apply for certification through the Board of Certification of Community Health Workers with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
If you are interested in scheduling a virtual meeting to learn more about this new initiative, please contact:

Gemima St. Louis, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Associate Vice President for Workforce Initiatives & Specialty Training, Center for Workforce Development
Associate Professor, Clinical Psychology Department
William James College, One Wells Avenue, Newton, MA 02459
617-327-6777 Ext. 1241; williamjames.edu/workforce