Improving Diabetes Prevention and Management

By

New York State Community Health Worker Initiative

Funding Area

Improving Diabetes Prevention and Management

Date

October 25, 2011

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This New York State Community Health Worker Initiative report, supported by NYHealth, outlines recommendations for advancing the role of community health workers (CHWs) in the health care workforce.

CHWs can play a vital in improving the health and well-being of people in their communities. Health care costs, such as emergency room visits and hospitalizations, go down when CHWs are involved, and patients and communities better understand their responsibilities and health care options. This report examines how to integrate CHWs into new models of care and how CHW services can be financed. Recommendations outline three areas to help expand and improve New York’s CHW workforce:

  • Establishing a scope of practice for CHWs
  • Implementing a statewide training and certification process for CHWs
  • Identifying and securing stable financing for CHWs