OREGON COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS ASSOC
Programs
Community Health Worker Programs
For the year ended June 30, 2024, ORCHWA operated the following programs:(i) Community Education Worker (CEW) Program:The CEW Program is a Portland-metro-based collaborative of culturally specific organizations. Within the collaborative ORCHWA serves as the backbone and fiscally responsible organization, and serves to support the CHW workforce and their employees at CEW Partnering organizations, in providing linguistically specific and culturally centered services to communities. The CEW Program strives to decrease inequities in educational outcomes and increase the success of children from infancy to six years of age.(ii) Workforce Development & Training:ORCHWA is a State of Oregon-approved CHW training site, this training site approval allows the provision of state-recognized training for the CHW workforce across the state. Under this program, ORCHWA provides a 90-hour foundational training for Oregon residents to become certified CHWs. Additionally, ORCHWA offers workforce development and educational opportunities for CHWs to complete continuing education units (CEUs) required to maintain CHW state certification. (iii) Policy and Advocacy:ORCHWA has a rich history of engaging in policy and advocacy efforts both in the state and national arena. Policy and advocacy have been foundational in our work and pivotal in amplifying the voice of CHWs, increasing recognition of the workforce, promoting sustainable payment for CHW services, and increasing inclusion of CHWs in workforce-related policy and legislation.(iv) Technical Assistance & Education:ORCHWA offers technical assistance to community-based organizations, health systems, CCOs, and other interested parties to support partnership with and integration of CHWs, and the development of CHW programs. Technical assistance services range from hourly support to contracted and bundled services, CHW program review, and recommendation development. ORCHWA promotes activities, and the development of, programs conducive to the retention of the CHW workforce including livable wages, appropriate and aligned scope of practice, full reimbursement for services, and environments that engage in promising practices to support professional development and decrease workforce burnout. Accordingly, ORCHWA staff serve on various committees and workgroups, are invited to speak on panels, develop educational material, and record webinars.(v) Third-Party Billing (3PB):ORCHWA is developing infrastructure to enable billing Medicaid on behalf of community-based organizations for community-based CHW services, thus reducing the administrative burden of employing community-based organizations. The development of 3PB will increase community-based CHW workforce stability through an aligned, developed, infrastructure to enable payment for community-based community health worker service. The 3PB infrastructure will be replicable, scalable, and allow for geographic-specific individualization/customization. As part of a blended funding model, billing under 3PB will increase the sustainability and stability of the workforce, while increasing community access to CHW member/individual-centered services ultimately part of a strategy to support broader health and wellness of Oregonians most impacted by health inequities and barriers to services.(vi) Fiscal Sponsorship:As of July 2022, ORCHWA began providing fiscal sponsorship for two organizations, the Oregon Health Equity Coalition (OHEA) and the Indigenous Health Equity Institute (IHEI). In the role of fiscal sponsor, ORCHWA administers various back office administrative support including human resources, financial reporting and fiscal oversight.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$3M
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