Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

How do we get to… Carnegie Hall?

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

Performance-based Assessment in Community Health Worker Training

Elena Schwolsky RN, MPHCommunity Health Worker Project Hunter College

Romelia Rodriguez, CHWJamaica Childhood Asthma InitiativeSafe Space

Practice! Practice! Practice!

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

A word of thanks to…

SFSU CHW Certificate Program

Community Health Worker Evaluation Toolkit, University of Arizona Rural Health Office & College of Public Health

CHWs from New York City Childhood Asthma Initiative Community-based programs in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Jamaica, Queens and East Harlem, New York City

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

Community Health Workers must be of the people they serve

They must live with them…

Work with them…

Rejoice with them…

Suffer with them…

Grieve with them…

And decide with them…

World Health Organization

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

A little background…

Citywide initiative funded by NYC Department of Health

20 CHWs from 5 community asthma programs around NYC

Different organizational missions & structures

Diverse communities

Broad range of life & work experience

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

Our Challenge

How can we ensure:

That CHWs acquire basic asthma knowledge & skills

That CHWs are able to communicate this knowledge accurately to families

That CHWs are able to help families to achieve asthma self-management

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

CHW Core Competencies

Communication Skills Interpersonal Skills Knowledge Base Service Coordination Skills Capacity-Building Skills Advocacy Skills Teaching Skills Organizational Skills

National CHA Advisor Study

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

What skills did we assess?

Communication SkillsListeningUsing language confidently & appropriately

Teaching SkillsAbility to share information one-on-one

Knowledge BaseKnowledge about specific health issue

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

Why Performance-Based Assessment?

Learner is active participant

Based on “authentic” or real life situations

Tasks & skills are related to job

Clear standards & expectations

Accommodates individual differences in learning styles

Encourages learner to use judgment and develop problem-solving skills

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

What did we do?

Integrate role plays & skill demonstrations into training

On-site performance-based evaluation

Observed home visits

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

Performance AssessmentSafe Space -- Jamaica, NY

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

Community Health Workers in Action

Teaching role play

Use of teaching guide

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

Observations & Feedback

Use of performance checklist

Role of observer

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

Learning from each other

Each CHW has a different teaching style

Using effective language to teach about asthma

Learning the right way from the beginning

“Learning to be uncomfortable”

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

What did we learn?

One size does not fit all -- tailor assessment to individual/group needs

Involve experienced CHWs in design of assessment tool

Collaborative effort of program funder, CHW supervisors & trainers is needed to ensure constructive use of performance assessment

Performance assessment informs training & program design

Measuring CHW skills can enhance program evaluation

Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College

“The best assessments teach students & teachers alike the kind of work that most matters.”

-Wiggins

The Best Assessments….