Cambridge Health Alliance Volunteer Health Advisor Program

1. Cambridge Health Alliance Volunteer Health Advisor Program Volunteer Health Advisor Program “A bridge between the community and the healthcare system” Presented by Maude Guerrier Department of Community Affairs

2. Cambridge Health Alliance Cambridge Health Alliance - Who Are We: • Academic Public Healthcare System • Three cities (Somerville, Cambridge & Everett) • Three acute care hospitals • 20 primary sites

3. Community Affairs Department Mission The mission of the Community Affairs Department is to improve the status of the communities served by Cambridge Health Alliance. We connect communities to clinical services, and bring clinical services to communities. Community Affairs programs focus on populations that face many barriers in accessing care.

4. Volunteer Health Advisor Program VHA Vision To maximize scarce health care resources through establishment of a trained volunteer workforce that improves community health status.

5. Volunteer Health Advisor Program VHA Mission To improve community health by working collaboratively with faith based and community based organizations to recruit, train, and support a sustainable volunteer workforce that provides culturally and linguistically appropriate health education and outreach to under-served and hard-to-reach populations.

6. Volunteer Health Advisor Program • Role of the VHA • Volunteer Health Advisors (VHA) provide information to the community on: • Health education, including the importance of primary care • How to navigate the health care system • Insurance options for uninsured and underinsured • Social services and how to access them

7. Volunteer Health Advisor Program • Recruitment of VHA Volunteers • Volunteers are well known, trusted, and respected members of churches and communities. • Churches are also key places where people, especially immigrants, find friends, support and comfort.

8. Volunteer Health Advisor Program • Convincing points to Clergy • Health education should be a part of their church ministry • Convincing potential volunteers • The community needs you! • Being able to help make changes in someone’s life is priceless • Opportunity for learning and continuing education

9. Volunteer Health Advisor Program • Why use volunteers? • To create a sustainable program • Use of incentives reduces program cost

10. Volunteer Health Advisor Program • Program Development • Identify community health concerns • Formative Research- focus groups and key informant interviews

11. Volunteer Health Advisor Program • Training • Four core-training sessions • 20-hour training program • Four health modules

12. Volunteer Health Advisor Program • Training - Core Sessions • Empowerment and Communication • Health Access and Outreach • Public Health • Importance of Primary Care • Health Insurance Options

13. Volunteer Health Advisor Program • Training - Health Module • Chronic Disease and Acute Illness • Diabetes and Nutrition • Breast, Prostate and Testicular Cancer • Hypertension and Heart Disease • Cholesterol • Asthma • Stress and Mental Health • Tuberculosis: prevention and treatment • HIV & AIDS

14. Volunteer Health Advisor Program • Who are the VHAs? • Trained VHA come from three communities (Brazilian, English American, Haitian and Latino) and six cities and towns. • A total of 130 VHAs completed training and currently active.

15. Volunteer Health Advisor Program • VHA Activities • VHA’s referred 430 new patients to CHA for health care services (active VHAs) from July 2002 to present. • Provide basic health education one-on-one • Health presentations for groups on various health topics • Health screening events • Support groups for patients with diabetes • Organize health fairs • Peer supervision

16. Volunteer Health Advisor Program • Other ways VHAs can be used • Home visits • Walking Groups • Asthma education for parents (helping parents identify asthma triggers) • Training of new VHA’s • HIV Support Groups • Domestic Violence Groups, etc.

17. Volunteer Health Advisor Program 6/2002 - 10/2003

18. Volunteer Health Advisor Program Select Demographics • Sex: 79% female, 21% male • Age: from 18 to over 65, 1/3 are 31-40 years old, 1/3 are 41-50 years old • Residence: from 15 different towns/cities, including cities outside of the CHA primary service area

19. Jobs related to Health Care ever held by VHAs, currently or in the past (N=32)

20. Total number of years each VHA has lived in the US(n = 78)* *Haitian Creole group 1 (n=16) not asked this question.

21. Highest level of education completed by VHAs, in US and abroad(n = 94)

22. Volunteer Health Advisor Program • Additional VHA Program Areas • Specialist Project • Continuing Education Program

23. Volunteer Health Advisor Program • VHA Activities • VHA’s referred 371 new patients to CHA for health care services (active VHAs) from July 2002 to present • Provide basic health education one-on-one • Health presentations for groups on various health topics • Health screening events • Support groups for patients with diabetes • Organize health fairs • Peer supervision

24. Volunteer Health Advisor Program • Conclusion • VHAs to be certified.(Peer Helper Assoc.) • Expand to Vietnamese Communities • Effective ways to connect to hard-to-reach communities • Communities are accountable and are equally receptive to this approach • Designing a program that is easy to replicate and is culturally grouped

25. Volunteer Health Advisor Program For more information on VHA Program: Please contact Maude Guerrier (617) 591 - 6939 (617) 591 - 6949 Facsimile rguerrier@challiance.org