Who We Are
Minnesota Community Health Workers (CHWs) come from the communities they serve, working at the grassroots level building trust and vital relationships which make them effective culture brokers between their own communities and systems of care. CHWs reduce cultural and linguistic barriers to health care, improve quality and cost effectiveness of care, and increase the number of healthcare workers who come from diverse backgrounds or underserved communities.
Since the statewide project started there have been over 270 CHWs who have graduated with a Minnesota Community Health Worker certificate and over 85 CHW jobs that have been developed. Minnesota sees CHWs as being one answer to health equity by reducing cultural and linguistic barriers.CHWs are working in healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, FQHC’s, and in hospice. They are also working through county offices in public health, community based programs in non-profit organizations.
The CHW Alliance
Minnesota’s Community Health Worker (CHW) Project is a statewide initiative whose mission is to reduce cultural and linguistic barriers to health care, improve quality and cost effectiveness of care, and increase the number of healthcare workers who come from diverse backgrounds or underserved communities. Community Health Workers come from the communities they serve, working at the grassroots level building trust and vital relationships which make them effective culture brokers between their own communities and systems of care. CHWs:
- Teach navigation through the healthcare system - increasing healthcare access
- Improve health care knowledge – lowering healthcare disparities
- Bridge the gap between cultures and healthcare systems – improving health outcomes
Project Innovation
This project is a tribute to the coalition of partners (educators, the health care industry, healthcare recipients, public and private organizations, & CHWs) who are committed to improving the system of healthcare delivery services to all Minnesota residents. This project:
- Developed a standardized curriculum to educate CHWs in Minnesota;
- Developed professional standards for CHWs that define their role in the health care delivery system;
- Created a sustainable employment market, incorporating CHWs into the health care workforce;
- Demonstrated that trained CHWs are effective in providing reimbursable as well as valued services.
- Project Accomplishments
- Developed and published an 11 credit Community Health Worker Curriculum
- Available for purchase through the Education toolbar on this website or www.heip.org
- Developed health specialized CHW training in the areas of oral and mental health
- 2005 – 2007 enrolled 248 students into the CHW training
- 240 students graduated and received a certificate which makes their services eligible for reimbursement
- 70 graduates hired for into newly created CHW jobs
- 62 were awarded scholarships provided through funding partners
- Successfully advocated for passage of new Minnesota Legislation mandating Medicaid reimbursement for Community Health Workers to begin in 2008.
- Published workforce analysis, outcome analysis and other national studies to build a foundation of support for the Community Health Worker position.
Project Information
Healthcare Education Industry Partnership, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Contact: Anne Willaert at anne.willaert@mnsu.edu