Mobilize Community Health Workers to Prevent Spread of COVID-19 in Palm Beach County

Plan to Mobilize Community Health Workers to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Palm Beach County June 29, 2020

Overview Palm Beach County issued a declaration of emergency on March 13, 2020 and began its operations to combat the COVID19 pandemic at a local level. Palm Beach County has more than 60 testing sites strategically located throughout the county. Research shows that a community health worker (CHW) program can significantly improve health outcomes, particularly for the poorest members of the community. Palm Beach County s community health workers can be strategically deployed in marginalized disadvantaged communities throughout the county and will specifically aim to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in those geographical areas.

Palm Beach County Covid-19 Data Palm Beach County Covid-19 Data As of June 25, 2020 (Source: FL DOH COVID-19 Dashboard) Total Cases 11,840 Total Hospitalizations 1,647 Total Deaths 486 Covid-19 Hot Spots (next slide) make up a large percentage of the total cases

Covid-19 Hot Spots, Zones & Community Partners Covid-19 Hot Spots Zip Code City Cases Community Partner Community Partners/(Healthier Glades, Glades Initiative, Farmworker Coordinating Council, Federation of Families, Florida Community Health Centers) Community Partners/Healthier Neighbors, Sickle Cell Foundation, North West Community Consortium Inc., Urban League 387 Community Partners/HCSEF/TLJ Medical Society 310 HCSEF/TLJ Medical Society 851 Caridad/Foundcare 622 Caridad/Foundcare 563 Caridad/Foundcare 403 Genesis 330 Foundcare 308 Genesis 400 HCSEF/El Sol 321 Foundcare 5573 Zone 33430 Belle Glade 531 A 33415 West Palm Beach 547 B 33407 West Palm Beach/Riviera Beach 33404 Riviera Beach 33460 Lake Worth 33461 Lake Worth 33463 Lake Worth 33435 Boynton Beach 33406 Palm Springs 33462 Lantana 33458 Jupiter 33411 Royal Palm Beach B B C C C C C C D D Total

CHW Actions Testing is a key component to preventing the spread of COVID-19, however; it must be accompanied by other actions to maximize effectiveness. Using Community Health Workers (CHW) to help carry out these actions has proven to be extremely effective in communities across the country. Additional actions include: Isolating individuals who are contagious Preventing people they have infected from spreading the virus Providing education and awareness to residents in targeted areas slow community spread and working other businesses and other organizations to ensure they are implementing the necessary precautions.

CHW Strategies Building trust with residents and encouraging them to get tested; Being present at testing sites to encourage individuals who are tested to cooperate with the State Department of Health s (DoH) contact tracers; Collecting information from individuals tested to assist contact tracers; Providing education and awareness to residents on ways to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19; Training residents on how to isolate and wear Personal Protective Equipment properly; Connecting residents to community resources that are available to assist with isolation and connecting them to emergency supports; Checking in with residents to ensure their needs are being met during isolation.

Community Partnership & Collaboration Community Partnership and Collaboration will be critical for the effectiveness of the CHW program. The Community Partners identified include: Florida Community Health Center (FCHC), Glades Initiative (GI), Farmworker Coordinating Council (FCC), Federation of Families (FoF), Palm Beach County Community Services Department (CSD), State Department of Health, Health Council of Southeast Florida (HCSEF), Genesis, FoundCare, Caridad, and Community Partners

Finding the Ideal CHW Each agency will work with local faith-based organizations and other entities to identify the best candidates to be hired for the CHW positions. A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a frontline public health employee who is a trusted member of the community they serve. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as an intermediary between social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.

CHW Qualifications Required qualifications: GED or High School Diploma to meet certification, license or registration requirement Valid Driver's License Ability to work collaboratively with others and to participate fully in a team process Appropriate interpersonal skills Ability to complete necessary tasks and meet deadlines Ability to follow directions, be a self-starter and collaborate with coworkers Willingness to learn computer systems and programs Accurate word processing/typing skills Ability to manage multiple priorities concurrently in a fast paced environment with good organizational skills Preferred qualifications: Worked in similar field as a community health worker, peer specialist, peer advocate, volunteering in the community preferred

CHW Job Description Navigation/Linkage to individuals impacted by COVID-19 with community resources Work with the State Department of Health (EPI) to educate and train individuals who have tested positive and need isolation Assist the individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 with accessing primary care, mental health care, and substance use disorder treatment. Assist individuals with navigating health care and other systems Utilize motivational interviewing and harm reduction techniques to provide support to individuals or family members who have been impacted by COVID-19 If warranted, will assist individuals who have been impacted by COVID-19 with completing housing/homeless and other service providers applications or registration forms for services; may complete client demographic logs and other statistical information Work collaboratively and professionally with other Social Workers when necessary to manage complex situations for individuals who have been impacted by COVID-19 Build relationships with clients/patients being screened or who have tested positive for COVID-19 by asking appropriate questions in a compassionate manner and uses good listening skills

CHW Outreach Duties Actively seek opportunities for outreach with a focus on hard to reach populations and our identified high-need communities Train residents about ways to prevent COVID-19 and how to maintain if they have contracted the virus Distribute personal protective equipment and educational materials to residents within vulnerable communities Conduct presentations about available services to local community based organizations Maintain and strengthen contact with municipalities, faith-based entities and key stakeholders to improve outreach, education and awareness While performing outreach activities, recognizes possible community resources and brings back information to supervisor Maintain knowledge of community programs and provides community with appropriate linkages as requested. Attend and participate in regular Community Services and Health Department meetings to coordinate efficiently Attended CHW trainings, as required by supervisor, to stay up-to-date on programs

Shared CHW Goals Assist individuals who test positive for COVID-19 with navigation and support services Provide education and training to individuals who receive COVID-19 testing and to residents within vulnerable communities Distribute PPE to individuals at testing sites and other outreach events Supporting Contact Tracers in contacting individuals who test positive for COVID-19 to encourage isolation for the recommended timeframe

Programmatic Outcomes Increase participant knowledge about ways to prevent COVID-19 Increase the number of individuals who have PPE Increase the amount of education and training that occurs within communities Increase the percentage of COVID-19 positive individuals contacted by Contact Tracers Increase the percentage of individuals who receive their test results Increase the percentage of people within household of positive person that are notified within the designated timeframe

Lets Get to Work Next Steps: Agency Capacity to Provide CHW services Contracting Process

Questions?

Community Services Department Contact Information Sonja Holbrook sholbroo@pbcgov.org 772-985-4988