Project Summary
Background: Over the last 10 years, the project team has developed curricula to train CHWs to participate as part of PCOR research teams. However, the current COVID-19 pandemic with requirements for social distancing and less face-to-face interaction is having a profound effect on PCOR. Based on its experience and expertise, the team now proposes to increase CHW PCOR capacity by developing additional CHW abilities for virtual and distanced methods of PCOR engagement.
Proposed Solution: Responsive to stakeholder feedback and contextual changes as a result of the pandemic, the team proposes to enhance its existing CHW PCOR training program with an additional module to train CHWs in virtual and distanced methods of PCOR engagement. Such training will empower CHWs on use of telehealth and other mobile data collection tools and help CHWs assist patients in PCOR opportunities during and after the COVID-19 crisis.
Objectives:
- Work with stakeholder partners in three states to develop a training curriculum for PCOR through virtual/distanced methods of engagement
- Using distance learning and train-the-trainer model, train 10 champions with the curriculum
- Create a Spanish version of the training program
- The 10 champions will train 20 CHWs each in PCOR in their state through video conferencing (200 total)
- With a focus on long-term sustainability, develop an online CHW PCOR telehealth training module, which the team would add to its existing online toolkit
Activities: To create the curriculum, the team will follow a path similar to the one used in developing the initial PCOR training curriculum. This includes conducting an environmental scan including materials the team already uses to train CHWs in mobile engagement. A 12-person stakeholder panel will review the initial iteration of the curriculum and, based on bidirectional feedback, the team will develop a draft that will then be presented to a CHW focus group for additional input. The team will also create a Spanish version of the training. The team will train 10 CHW champions who would then each train 20 CHWs (200 total) across all three states. By increasing awareness and demystifying such tools, the team hopes to increase their capacity to be effective members of PCOR teams that have had to adapt to contextual realities of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stakeholder Engagement: For the project, the team will continue to partner with existing stakeholders based in the three states having the largest populations: California (39.5 million persons), Texas (29 million), and Florida (21.5 million). All three states also have very racially/ethnically diverse populations and a long history of robust CHW programs. The goal is to create a four-hour (half-day) workshop-style curriculum that the team will use to train 10 CHW champions. These champions will then each train 20 CHWs (200 total) across all three states. All training will be done through virtual environments.
Project Collaborators: The three key collaborators in this project are the Chula Vista Community Collaborative (California), Dia de la Mujer Latina (Texas), and the Florida Community Health Worker Coalition. All participants have worked together previously in developing and implementing prior CHW/Promotores PCOR curricula and trainings.