The APHA CHW Section Policy Committee will be holding their next conference call/meeting on Thursday July 14, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.  The Phone number:  (877) 914-8175 Code: 3339912.  If you are interested in being a member of the committee, we would love to have you join and are always looking for new members.  The Policy Committee will be holding quarterly meetings.  Please contact Anne Willaert or Jewel Bell, Policy Committee co-chairs, at:

Anne Willaert

(507) 389-7347

anne.willaert@southcentral.edu

Jewel Bell

(513) 425-7856

jewelb@cityofmiddletown.org

The work plan that the Policy Committee is currently working on involves two major areas: 

1.  Provide clear communication and fact based information that is accessible to CHWs, researchers, and employers of CHWs, legislators, advocates or others to be used as a business case to support the position/role of CHWs. 

2. Track and discuss the development of policies that include CHWs with the ACA implementation. Implement a strategy to include CHWs within the Medical Home model as team members. 

The activities that we will be working on to meet that work plan include:

1. Develop an online accessible clearinghouse with evidence based research to support the role of the community health workers.  This will include both published and unpublished articles that CHWs, employers of CHWs, advocates, legislators and others can use to move legislation or create a business case to support the position of the CHW.

2. Create a one pager fact sheet which would demonstrate the business case to support the integration of CHWs as a team member in the medical home model both at the state and national level.