FAQ
Who are CHWs?
Question: Who are CHWs?Answer: Community Health Workers (CHWs) are trusted members of the communities they serve. This trusting relationship enables CHWs to effectively serve as a bridge/link between health/social services.
CHWs improve access to culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate services of service delivery. CHWs build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and social support networks through a range of activities such as health promotion, outreach, community education, social support and advocacy.
Question: What is the history of CHWs?
Answer: This helpful resource from MHP Salud describes the history of CHWs in the US with a timeline, moments of interest, and further resources.
Certification
Question: How do I become a certified CHW?Answer:
- Complete an approved training program; OR
- Provide documentation that you have worked or volunteered as a CHW for at least 3000 hours in Oregon between January 1, 2004 and June 30, 2019;
- Pass the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) background check.
(If you have completed some or all of the certification training requirements, you may be able to count previously - completed training toward certification.)
For more information, go to:
www.oregon.gov/oha/OEI/Pages/THW-CHW.aspxQuestion: How much does the CHW training cost?
Answer: CHW training costs vary by organization. For information on any ORCHWA hosted training, please complete our inquiry form and we will be in touch.
Question: What does it cost to get a CHW certification?Answer: There are no costs for the certification or background checks done by the OHA, however, if a CHW has to do fingerprinting, OHA does not cover that cost. Please contact OHA with any additional questions regarding the certification or recertification process: thw.program@state.or.us.
Question: How do I prove that I'm a certified CHW?
Answer: The OHA maintains the THW Registry employers can consult.Continuing Education Units (CEU)
Question: What are the continuing education requirements to maintain my CHW certification?
Answer: All CHWs must complete at least 20 hours of CEUs during the three-year period between certification and renewal. Starting July1, 2022, to renew your CHW certification 3 of the 20 CEUs are required to be in suicide prevention.
Question: What CEUs is ORCHWA offering?
Answer: Our training calendar can be found here, or join our listserv for regular training announcements.
Question: Where can I find a list of CEU offerings across the state?
Answer: For an updated list of state approved CEU offerings please visit OHA Approved Training Sites
Question: If I want to offer CEUs, how and where do I receive approval?
Answer: Complete an OHA CEU Training Program Application here: http://www.oregon.gov/oha/oei/Pages/thw-approved.aspx
RESOURCE: Oregon Laws website
Employing CHWs
Question: Who provides CHW supervision?
Answer: CHW supervision depends on the employer. If the employer is billing medicaid for CHW services the CHW must be supervised by an existing licensed practitioner including Licensed Health Care Professional (physician, certified nurse practitioner, physician assistant, dentist, dental hygienists, Ph.D. Psychologist, LCST, licensed professional counselor).
CHW Billing Guidance that is available on OHA website is for employers able to bill for CHW those services for CHWs that are on the THW Registry.
- The best place to check is the OHA scope of work document: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/OEI/Documents/Traditional%20Health%20Worker%20Scope%20of%20Practice.pdf
- ORCHWA is currently working on a promising practices guide for CHW supervision.
- Further questions about CHW scope of work and supervision should be directed to: thw.program@state.or.us.
Question: What are some tips for writing a CHW job description?
Answer:
- Be innovative with the job description, and focus on talents.
- Use plain language; e.g. "Knowledge of children and families either through a formal setting, or through parenting, grandparenting, fostering, etc. children yourself"
- Specify that the candidate possess CHW Certification or the ability to possess CHW Certification within the first six months of employment.
Answer: It is most important that a CHW is the best match to the organization and to the population-at-need.
Question: How do you balance the funder or program needs vs the needs of the Community Health Workers support, recognition and professional development advocacy?Answer: Effective organizations base their strategic goals on their own missions, aspirations, histories, capacities, partnerships, and assessments of community needs and assets. If a CHW Association has a funding partner, it’s likely the funder already respects the organization’s leadership and work and will appreciate and respect an internally-directed strategic planning process. Strategic planning requires a balance of creative thinking about organizational goals (and related policy and program priorities) and pragmatic thinking about available resources.
orchwa membership
Question: What is an ORCHWA member?Answer: ORCHWA members are CHWs, supervisors, traditional health workers, allies and advocates who bring crucial connections, insights, and perspectives to the work we do.
Question: How do I become an ORCHWA member?
Answer: You can easily sign up on our website!
Question: How do I check to see if my ORCHWA membership is still active?
Answer:
- Try logging into our members only area of the website.
- If you don't have or remember a password, click on the 'forgot my password' link and follow the directions. If your membership was active within the last few years you will be in the system and it will send you instructions on how to reset your password. Once you are logged in, you can check your membership status and renew or upgrade your account.
- If you are unable to login, or have further questions, please contact us.
Question: What benefits does an ORCHWA membership offer?
Answer: Member benefits currently include voting* in our annual meeting, discounted tickets to the annual conference and select training opportunities, access to our members’ only database, general and regional forums, and networking opportunities!
*Voting rights only apply to ORCHWA Members who are CHWs