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Montana's Community Health Workers Fill Public Health Gaps in the State
Though vibrant in other countries and other states, the field of community health workers is a new and emerging workforce in Montana. Community health workers (CHWs) are front-line public health workers with close relationships and/or shared lived experiences with the population they serve. CHWs can work in various settings including hospitals, primary care settings like federally qualified health centers, rural health centers and urban Indian health centers, behavioral health centers, public health departments, schools, and community-based organizations.
CHWs are a promising new workforce in Montana as they benefit both the patients and the health and social care systems. For example, CHWs:
- improve primary care access for patients by making it easier to schedule and attend medical appointments;
- reduce unnecessary emergency department visits by helping patients access preventative care;
- extends patient care beyond the healthcare clinic walls by helping patients access needed community-based services that address social determinants of health.
This emerging workforce requires dynamic training to meet the complex health and social needs of Montanans. The University of Montana Center for Children, Families, and Workforce Development (Center) has responded to this challenge by developing and now offering free CHW training. This virtual 10-week training also includes 5 tele-coaching sessions to be completed with a cohort of learners. After completing the training, community health workers will be able to:
- Address social determinants of health by connecting clients to housing and food resources and healthcare programs
- Implement effective client interviews and documentation techniques
- Demonstrate knowledge of behavioral health and crisis resources in their community
- Understand best practices for working with diverse cultures in Montana
The first cohort of learners will complete the training in October. One CHW completing the training said, “This entire (behavioral health) lesson is of utmost importance to a CHW, or anyone involved in health care. For too long, mental health has been dealt with very lightly in Montana. It's time we all realize that it is something that can be talked about, that needs to be addressed, and that there is no stigma attached to someone needing help”
The CHW Training is bolstering the capacity of direct service workers to respond to behavioral health concerns experienced among Montanans. CHWs are an asset to organizations seeking to improve their connection to communities, effectively address social determinants of health and connect clients to needed resources.
An administrative leader in the field of children’s behavioral health stated:
“I had the opportunity to audit the training and am very impressed by it. It covers a wide range of skills and knowledge that are relevant to case management — such as documentation, systems advocacy, values/ethics, service coordination, and many more. I think it would be a very valuable resource for staff in case management roles”
The Center will offer this training in January, April and September of next year. To sign up for the waitlist, please go to our website: Community Health Worker Training Program (umt.edu). If you have questions about the training program, please reach out to the Project Director Mackenzie Petersen at [email protected]
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