Health Care Cultural Competence
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Research studies show that community health workers improve health outcomes among minority and immigrant populations. |
Community health workers are typically bicultural and bilingual individuals whose effectiveness stems from their membership in and understanding of the communities they serve. CHWs serve as a crucial bridge between specific cultural groups and the health systems that serve them.
Just as our particular culture may define our relationship to family or our understanding of education, our culture also defines how we perceive health and illness, and consequently how we view treatment and prevention. Cultural beliefs and practices play a significant role in the health of individuals and communities.
Though we endeavor to improve the level of cultural competence in the health care system, it is unreasonable to expect providers to know everything about every culture. It’s important to have front-line staff — community health workers and foreign-language interpreters — who can serve as a bridge between patients’ cultures and languages and health care providers.
CHWs help ensure culturally appropriate health care
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, “Research studies show that community health workers improve health outcomes among minority and immigrant populations.” That’s because CHWs can deliver culturally appropriate health education, health promotion and supportive health services to patients who face linguistic and cultural barriers to accessing health care. Their functions vary across the organizations that employ them and the populations they serve.
In some cases, CHWs help patients obtain health coverage, make medical appointments and follow through on treatment recommendations. In other cases, CHWs provide outreach, referral and education about specific health issues such as diabetes or teenage pregnancy.
Through our Critical Links grantmaking initiative, the Blue Cross Foundation advances the training, use and sustainable support of CHWs as a strategy for improving health care cultural competence, addressing Minnesota's health care work force shortage and reducing health disparities among the state’s racial, ethnic and foreign-born.
Health Care and World Religions Handbook
A handbook for health care professionals providing insights on attaining cultural competence
Download handbookAdvancing Community Health Worker Practice and Utilization: The Focus on Financing
This 2006 report commissioned by the Blue Cross Foundation presents findings on existing and emerging funding, reimbursement and payment policies for community health workers.
Link to reportCommunity Health Worker Evaluation Toolkit
Call to request this guide for increasing the quality and quantity of community health worker program evaluations, University of Arizona Rural Health Office, (915) 351-9099.
Critical Learning: Bicultural Community Health Workers' Views on Prospective Training Opportunities
This March 2004 report, commissioned by the Blue Cross Foundation and prepared by the Wilder Foundation, summarizes the findings of two focus group discussions with community health workers on the training needs of new and experienced CHWs.
Link to reportCritical Links: Study Findings and Forum Highlights on the Use of Community Health Workers and Interpreters in Minnesota
Executive summary. This May 2003 report, commissioned by the Blue Cross Foundation, shares findings from a statewide employee survey and a forum in which policymakers, educators and representatives from health organizations met to discuss CHW inclusion in Minnesota's health care system.
Link to reportCritical Links: Study Findings and Forum Highlights on the Use of Community Health Workers and Interpreters in Minnesota
Full report. This May 2003 report, commissioned by the Blue Cross Foundation, shares findings from a statewide employee survey and a forum in which policymakers, educators and representatives from health organizations met to discuss CHW inclusion in Minnesota's health care system.
Link to reportFunding CHW Programs and Services in Minnesota: Looking to the Future
Supplements the national report ("Advancing Community Health Worker Practice and Utilization:) by highlighting CHW financing issues in Minnesota.
Link to reportVoices of the Community: A Profile of Minnesota's Community Health Workers
This report, created by Minnesota International Health Volunteers through a Blue Cross Foundation grant, highlights the vital role community health workers have in connecting members of their community with health and social services. It also features profiles on 11 CHWs.
Link to reportIN THIS SECTION
