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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
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
Community Affairs Department
MissionThe 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.
Volunteer Health Advisor Program
VHA VisionTo maximize scarce health care
resources through establishment of a trained volunteer workforce that improves community health status.
Volunteer Health Advisor Program
VHA MissionTo 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.
Volunteer Health Advisor Program
Role of the VHAVolunteer 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
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.
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
Volunteer Health Advisor Program
Why use volunteers?• To create a sustainable program
• Use of incentives reduces program cost
Volunteer Health Advisor Program
Program Development• Identify community health concerns
• Formative Research- focus groups and key informant interviews
Volunteer Health Advisor Program
Training• Four core-training sessions
• 20-hour training program
• Four health modules
Training - Core Sessions• Empowerment and Communication• Health Access and Outreach• Public Health• Importance of Primary Care• Health Insurance Options
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
Volunteer Health Advisor Program
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.
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
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.
Volunteer Health Advisor Program
6/2002 - 10/2003
Volunteer Health Advisor Program
ActiveVHAs
# SurveysCompleted
# GroupsTrained
HaitianCreole
75 49 4
Portuguese 30 26 1
Spanish 19 13 3
English 6 6 1
TOTAL 130 94 (72%) 9
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
Volunteer Health Advisor Program
Unspecified "other" (3)
Family Planning Counselor (1)
Home Health Aid (4)
Health Educator (1)
Mental Health (6)
Geriatric Services (2)
Billing & Customer Service (1)
Food Services (1)
No Response (3) Certified Nurse
Assistant (5)
Nurse (5)
Jobs related to Health Care ever held by VHAs, currently or in the past (N=32)
Total number of years each VHA has lived in the US (n = 78)*
more than 20 yrs10%
17 to 20 yrs6%
13 to 16 yrs12%
no response3% less than 1 year
4%
1 to 4 yrs36%
9 to 12 yrs19% 5 to 8 yrs
10%
*Haitian Creole group 1 (n=16) not asked this question.
Highest level of education completed by VHAs, in US and abroad (n = 94)
Less than high school18%
No response4%
Associate/2-year/junior college
11%
Bachelors degree16%
Masters degree6%
Special training/certification
10%
Doctorate/Ph.D./MD1%
Unspecified "other"1%
High school diploma or equivalent
33%
Volunteer Health Advisor Program
Additional VHA Program Areas• Specialist Project
• Continuing Education Program
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
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
Volunteer Health Advisor Program
For more information on VHA Program:
Please contact Maude Guerrier (617) 591 - 6939
(617) 591 - 6949 [email protected]