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Petruzzi L, Smithwick J, Lee L, Delva J, Fox L, Wilkinson G, Vohra-Gupta S, Aranda M, Valdez C, Jones B. Community Health Work and Social Work Collaboration: Integration in Health Care and Public Health Settings: A Conceptual Framework. J Ambul Care Manage 2024; 47:187-202. [PMID: 38775666 DOI: 10.1097/jac.0000000000000498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Community health worker (CHW) and social worker (SW) collaboration is crucial to illness prevention and intervention, yet systems often engage the 2 workforces in silos and miss opportunities for cross-sector alignment. In 2021, a national workgroup of over 2 dozen CHWs, SWs, and public health experts convened to improve CHW/SW collaboration and integration across the United States. The workgroup developed a conceptual framework that describes structural, systemic, and organizational factors that influence CHW/SW collaboration. Best practices include standardized training, delineated roles and scopes of practice, clear workflows, regular communication, a shared system for documentation, and ongoing support or supervision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liana Petruzzi
- Author Affiliations: Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas (Drs Petruzzi, Valdez, and Jones); Center for Community Health Alignment, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina (Mss Smithwick and Fox); Knowledge Transfer Exchange Strategies, LLC, Corona, California (Dr Lee); Center for Innovation in Social Work Health, Boston University School of Social Work, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Delva and Mr Wilkinson); Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas (Drs Vohra-Gupta, Valdez, and Jones); Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (Dr Aranda)
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LeBrón AMW, Montiel GI, Arpero S, Jimenez J, Torres G, Ortiz H, Mejía N, Bracho A. Talents, Tears, Stories of Our Identities, and Community Building: Toward Community-Based Ecosystems of Latiné Health Driven by Promotores. Am J Public Health 2024; 114:S525-S533. [PMID: 39083749 PMCID: PMC11292289 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2024.307763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
This essay describes a process for integrating US Latiné communities as drivers of a grassroots vision for healthy Latiné communities and health equity planning that addresses racial injustices. Transforming structural conditions to promote Latiné community health happens alongside creating conditions for community-level self-determination to foster community-based ecosystems of health. Integrating a life course perspective, we describe a vision for community-based ecosystems of Latiné health that is rooted in forging connections and cultivating community; building community power to address structural drivers of health; leveraging the expertise and assets of promotores to reach, engage, and mobilize communities; scaling solutions through policy, system, and environment changes; and grounding research processes in community-driven priorities. Such processes must affirm the expertise of promotores and Latiné communities and recognize the interconnectedness of communities and systems (e.g., food, housing, living wages) to nurture health at local levels. Research can advance the science and evidence-based models that support community-based ecosystems of Latiné health. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S6):S525-S533. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307763) [Formula: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana M W LeBrón
- Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior in the Program in Public Health and the Department of Chicano/Latino Studies in the School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Gloria I. Montiel is with AltaMed Health Services Corporation and Latino Health Access, Santa Ana, CA. S. Arpero, J. Jimenez, G. Torres, H. Ortiz, N. Mejía, and A. Bracho are with Latino Health Access
| | - Gloria Itzel Montiel
- Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior in the Program in Public Health and the Department of Chicano/Latino Studies in the School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Gloria I. Montiel is with AltaMed Health Services Corporation and Latino Health Access, Santa Ana, CA. S. Arpero, J. Jimenez, G. Torres, H. Ortiz, N. Mejía, and A. Bracho are with Latino Health Access
| | - Saraí Arpero
- Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior in the Program in Public Health and the Department of Chicano/Latino Studies in the School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Gloria I. Montiel is with AltaMed Health Services Corporation and Latino Health Access, Santa Ana, CA. S. Arpero, J. Jimenez, G. Torres, H. Ortiz, N. Mejía, and A. Bracho are with Latino Health Access
| | - Josefina Jimenez
- Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior in the Program in Public Health and the Department of Chicano/Latino Studies in the School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Gloria I. Montiel is with AltaMed Health Services Corporation and Latino Health Access, Santa Ana, CA. S. Arpero, J. Jimenez, G. Torres, H. Ortiz, N. Mejía, and A. Bracho are with Latino Health Access
| | - Gina Torres
- Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior in the Program in Public Health and the Department of Chicano/Latino Studies in the School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Gloria I. Montiel is with AltaMed Health Services Corporation and Latino Health Access, Santa Ana, CA. S. Arpero, J. Jimenez, G. Torres, H. Ortiz, N. Mejía, and A. Bracho are with Latino Health Access
| | - Hilda Ortiz
- Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior in the Program in Public Health and the Department of Chicano/Latino Studies in the School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Gloria I. Montiel is with AltaMed Health Services Corporation and Latino Health Access, Santa Ana, CA. S. Arpero, J. Jimenez, G. Torres, H. Ortiz, N. Mejía, and A. Bracho are with Latino Health Access
| | - Nancy Mejía
- Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior in the Program in Public Health and the Department of Chicano/Latino Studies in the School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Gloria I. Montiel is with AltaMed Health Services Corporation and Latino Health Access, Santa Ana, CA. S. Arpero, J. Jimenez, G. Torres, H. Ortiz, N. Mejía, and A. Bracho are with Latino Health Access
| | - America Bracho
- Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior in the Program in Public Health and the Department of Chicano/Latino Studies in the School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Gloria I. Montiel is with AltaMed Health Services Corporation and Latino Health Access, Santa Ana, CA. S. Arpero, J. Jimenez, G. Torres, H. Ortiz, N. Mejía, and A. Bracho are with Latino Health Access
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Nielsen VM, Ursprung WWS, Song G, Hirsch G, Mason T, Santarelli C, Guimaraes E, Marshall E, Allen CG, Lei PP, Brown D, Behl-Chadha B. The Launch of Massachusetts Community Health Worker Certification: Findings From the Massachusetts Community Health Worker Workforce Surveys. Public Health Rep 2024:333549241253419. [PMID: 38807371 DOI: 10.1177/00333549241253419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The launch of state certification for community health workers (CHWs) in Massachusetts in 2018 aimed to promote and champion this critical workforce. However, concerns exist about unintentional adverse effects of certification. Given this, we conducted 2 cross-sectional surveys to evaluate this certification policy. METHODS We conducted surveys of CHW employers and CHWs in 3 sample frames: community health centers and federally qualified health centers, acute-care hospitals, and community-based organizations. We administered the surveys in 2016 (before certification launch) and 2021 (after certification launch) to answer the following questions: Was certification associated with positive outcomes among CHWs after its launch? Did harmful shifts occur among the CHW workforce and employers after certification launch? Was certification associated with disparities among CHWs after its launch? RESULTS Certification was associated with higher pay among certified (vs noncertified) CHWs, better perceptions of CHWs among certified (vs noncertified) CHWs, and better integration of certified (vs noncertified) CHWs into care teams. We found no adverse shifts in CHW workforce by sociodemographic variables or in CHW employer characteristics (most notably CHW employer hiring requirements) after certification launch. After certification launch, certified and uncertified CHWs had similar demographic and educational characteristics. However, certified CHWs more often worked in large, clinical organizations while uncertified CHWs most often worked in medium-sized community-based organizations. CONCLUSIONS Our evaluation of Massachusetts CHW certification suggests that CHW certification was not associated with workforce disparities and was associated with positive outcomes. Our study fills a notable gap in the research literature and can guide CHW research agendas, certification efforts in Massachusetts and other states, and program efforts to champion this critical, grassroots workforce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria M Nielsen
- Office of Population Health, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - W W Sanouri Ursprung
- Office of Statistics and Evaluation, Bureau of Community Health and Prevention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Glory Song
- Office of Statistics and Evaluation, Bureau of Community Health and Prevention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gail Hirsch
- Office of Community Health Workers, Bureau of Community Health and Prevention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Theresa Mason
- Office of Community Health Workers, Bureau of Community Health and Prevention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Claire Santarelli
- Bureau of Community Health and Prevention, Division of Health Protection and Promotion, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erica Guimaraes
- ForHealth Consulting, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Erica Marshall
- Bureau of Community Health and Prevention, Division of Community-Based Prevention and Care, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Caitlin G Allen
- Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Pei-Pei Lei
- Office of Survey Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA, USA
| | - Diane Brown
- Office of Survey Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA, USA
| | - Bittie Behl-Chadha
- Office of Survey Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA, USA
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Panaite A, Desroches O, Warren É, Rouly G, Castonguay G, Boivin A. Engaging with peers to integrate community care: Knowledge synthesis and conceptual map. Health Expect 2024; 27:e14034. [PMID: 38567865 PMCID: PMC10989131 DOI: 10.1111/hex.14034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Engaging with peers is gaining increasing interest from healthcare systems in numerous countries. Peers are people who offer support by drawing on lived experiences of significant challenges or 'insider' knowledge of communities. Growing evidence suggests that peers can serve as a bridge between underserved communities and care providers across sectors, through their ability to build trust and relationships. Peer support is thus seen as an innovative way to address core issues of formal healthcare, particularly fragmentation of care and health inequalities. The wide body of approaches, goals and models of peer support speaks volumes of such interest. Navigating the various labels used to name peers, however, can be daunting. Similar terms often hide critical differences. OBJECTIVES/BACKGROUND This article seeks to disentangle the conceptual multiplicity of peer support, presenting a conceptual map based on a 3-year knowledge synthesis project involving peers and programme stakeholders in Canada, and international scientific and grey literature. SYNTHESIS/MAIN RESULTS The map introduces six key questions to navigate and situate peer support approaches according to peers' roles, pathways and settings of practice, regardless of the terms used to label them. As a tool, it offers a broad overview of the different ways peers contribute to integrating health and community care. DISCUSSION We conclude by discussing the map's potential and limitations to establish a common language and bridge models, in support of knowledge exchange among practitioners, policymakers and researchers. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION Our team includes one experienced peer support worker. She contributed to the design of the conceptual map and the production of the manuscript. More than 10 peers working across Canada were also involved during research meetings to validate and refine the conceptual map.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreea‐Cătălina Panaite
- Canada Research Chair in Partnership with Patients and CommunitiesCHUM Research CenterMontréalQuébecCanada
| | - Odile‐Anne Desroches
- Canada Research Chair in Partnership with Patients and CommunitiesCHUM Research CenterMontréalQuébecCanada
- School of Public HealthUniversité de MontréalMontréalQuébecCanada
| | - Émilie Warren
- Canada Research Chair in Partnership with Patients and CommunitiesCHUM Research CenterMontréalQuébecCanada
| | - Ghislaine Rouly
- Canada Research Chair in Partnership with Patients and CommunitiesCHUM Research CenterMontréalQuébecCanada
| | - Geneviève Castonguay
- Canada Research Chair in Partnership with Patients and CommunitiesCHUM Research CenterMontréalQuébecCanada
| | - Antoine Boivin
- Canada Research Chair in Partnership with Patients and CommunitiesCHUM Research CenterMontréalQuébecCanada
- School of Public HealthUniversité de MontréalMontréalQuébecCanada
- Department of Family MedicineUniversité de MontréalMontréalQuébecCanada
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Koly KN, Saba J, Christopher E, Hossain ANN, Akter T, Rahman Z, Ahmed HU, Eaton J. Assessment of the feasibility of a community-based mental health training programme for persons with disabilities by non-specialists from different stakeholders' perspectives in Bangladesh. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:270. [PMID: 38433239 PMCID: PMC10910748 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10742-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Bangladesh is a developing country where 11% of the population has at least one disability, but no community-level mental health service is available. There is limited evidence of the burden of mental health issues and health-seeking behaviour among this population. This study assessed the feasibility of a training intervention for persons with disabilities, where peer support providers provided community-based disability-inclusive mental health services. METHODS Four stakeholder groups participated in this qualitative study: peer responders (trained persons with disabilities), trainers, representatives of organisations of persons with disabilities and disability-specific organisations, and officials of international and national non-governmental organisations. Two types of qualitative interviews were used to collect data, and thematic analysis techniques were utilised. RESULT Stakeholders perceived the peer responder training programme as acceptable for persons with disabilities to develop themselves as peer support providers, with potential benefits including increased mental health literacy, ensuring accessible mental health services, and improving the well-being of persons with disabilities. Potential challenges included receiving training and delivering services. Increased training duration, more fieldwork, supervision opportunities, and refresher training were recommended to mitigate training challenges. Financial support and formal community recognition were deemed necessary for training delivery. CONCLUSION The peer responder training programme was feasible to ensure accessible mental health services for persons with disabilities, build a workforce to screen for mental health conditions, and provide appropriate referrals. A multi-sectoral collaboration of government and non-governmental institutions is recommended to policy advocates to expand the peer responder training programme in the mainstream mental healthcare system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamrun Nahar Koly
- Health System and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
| | - Jobaida Saba
- Health System and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Enryka Christopher
- Trauma and Community Resilience Center, Boston Children's Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Anan Nisat Nabela Hossain
- Health System and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Taslima Akter
- Centre for Disability in Development, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Zakia Rahman
- CBM Bangladesh Country Office (CBMBCO), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Julian Eaton
- Centre for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- CBM Global Disability and Inclusion, Laudenbach, Germany
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Bearss B, Martin A, Dorsey Vinton S, Chaidez V, Palmer-Wackerly AL, Mollard E, Edison-Soe L, Chan N, Estrada Gonzalez E, Carter M, Coburn K, Xia Y, Tippens JA. "Too Many Jobs and Not Enough Hands": Immigrant and Refugee Community Health Workers at the Frontlines of the COVID-19 Pandemic. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2024; 34:86-100. [PMID: 37863477 DOI: 10.1177/10497323231204741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Refugees and immigrants have experienced heightened health inequities related to COVID-19. As community-embedded frontline health personnel, refugee and immigrant community health workers (riCHWs) played essential roles in the provision of informational, instrumental, and emotional support during the unprecedented first year of the pandemic. Despite the importance of this workforce, riCHWs are at high risk for burnout due to low recognition and demanding workloads. This was exacerbated as riCHWs navigated a new and uncertain health delivery landscape. We sought to glean insight into riCHWs' stressors, coping strategies and resources, and self-efficacy to identify ways to support their work and wellbeing. Using a narrative inquiry approach, we conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 11 riCHWs working in a midsized city in the midwestern United States. We generated three distinct yet interrelated themes: (1) Rapid and trustworthy information is key, (2) Creativity and perseverance are good … structural support is better, and (3) Integrating riCHW expertise into health promotion programming and decision-making. Although riCHWs were deeply committed to enhancing community wellbeing, quickly shifting responsibilities in tandem with structural-level health inequities diminished their self-efficacy and mental health. riCHWs relied on work-based friends/colleagues for informational and emotional support to enhance their capacity to deliver services. Findings suggest increasing opportunities for peer support and idea-exchange, professional development, and integration of riCHW expertise in health promotion decision-making are effective strategies to enhance riCHWs' professional self-efficacy and personal wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Bearss
- Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Alexandra Martin
- Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | | | - Virginia Chaidez
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth Mollard
- College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | | | - Nyabuoy Chan
- Asian Community and Cultural Center of Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | | | - Ma'Kiya Carter
- Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Katelyn Coburn
- Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Yan Xia
- Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Julie A Tippens
- Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
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Noel L, Chen Q, Petruzzi LJ, Phillips F, Garay R, Valdez C, Aranda MP, Jones B. Interprofessional collaboration between social workers and community health workers to address health and mental health in the United States: A systematised review. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2022; 30:e6240-e6254. [PMID: 36269094 PMCID: PMC10675993 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.14061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Collaboration between social workers (SW) and community health workers (CHW) plays an essential role in addressing health inequities in the United States (US). However, little is known about the current state of CHW/SW collaboration. The objectives of this review were to identify (a) the nature, goals and setting of CHWs and SW collaboration; (b) the patient outcomes utilised to measure intervention efficacy. The literature search was conducted in December 2020 using six databases. The inclusion criteria were (1) interventions that included CHWs and SWs; (2) US-based; (3) published between 2000-2020; (4) peer-reviewed journal articles; (5) examining health or mental health outcomes. Search results identified 281 articles, and 15 were included in the final analysis. Settings that utilised SW/CHW collaboration included outpatient clinics (n = 10); community organisations (n = 4) or hospital (n = 1). CHW and SW interventions focused on disease prevention (n = 8), chronic care (n = 4) and mental health (n = 3). Health outcomes were the most evaluated (n = 13), and significant improvement of at least one health outcome was reported in those studies. Mental health outcomes (n = 3) were also significantly improved, while social determinants of health (n = 2) were least common and descriptive only. This is the first review of SW and CHW collaboration. Clarity regarding SW and CHW roles and scopes of practice are needed to understand better SW/CHW collaboration and its impacts on community health outcomes and improve the process of collaboration. SW and CHW collaboration may increase clients' access to preventive care, mental health and address health inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lailea Noel
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Qi Chen
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Liana J. Petruzzi
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Farya Phillips
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Dell Medical School, Health Social Work, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Ricardo Garay
- Dell Medical School, Population Health, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Carmen Valdez
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Dell Medical School, Population Health, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - María P. Aranda
- University of Southern California Susanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Barbara Jones
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Dell Medical School, Health Social Work, Austin, Texas, USA
- Dell Medical School, LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes, Austin, Texas, USA
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Community health workers and promotoras' perspectives of a research best practice course: A focus group study. J Clin Transl Sci 2022; 6:e137. [PMID: 36590350 PMCID: PMC9794952 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2022.464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Community Health Workers and Promotoras (CHW/Ps) are valued for their role in helping to engage community members in research. CHW/Ps have traditionally received variable training in research fundamentals, including importance and promotion of research rigor to establish consistency in the methods used over time. Research best practices training exists for research professionals, but no standard training is provided as part of the CHW/P job role. To develop this CHW/P research best practices training, our team engaged English- and Spanish-speaking CHW/Ps to watch an early version of an online module and to examine perceptions of the relevance of such a training and optimal delivery methods. Methods Six virtual focus group discussions were conducted (three in English and three in Spanish) across different US geographic regions with currently employed CHW/Ps. Results Forty CHW/Ps participated (95% female, mean age 44 years, 58% identifying as Hispanic/Latino). Four themes emerged: relevance of training, benefits of providing a certificate of completion, flexible training delivery modalities, and peer-led training. Discussion With participation from representatives of the intended learner group of CHW/Ps, our team found that CHW/Ps valued learning about research best practices. They perceived culturally- and linguistically appropriate health research training to be highly relevant to their role, particularly for communicating key information to community members about their participation in health research. Additionally, participants provided input on effective dissemination of the training including the benefit of having proof of course completion, involvement of peer trainers, and value of providing the option to participate in online training.
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