Monday, November 10, 2014

Gov Quinn Picks Board to Oversee Establishment and Certification of Community Health Workers

CHICAGO – Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
                      Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck announced today the
                      appointment of a 15-member Illinois Community Health
                      Worker (CHW) Advisory Board.  Recently selected by
                      Governor Pat Quinn, the board will advise the
                      Governor, IDPH and the legislature on all matters
                      impacting the effective work of Community Health Workers across the
                      state, including the training and certification
                      processes.

                      Signed into law in August of 2014, the CHW Advisory
                      Board is composed of eight CHWs from across the
                      state.  The remaining seven members consist of
                      individuals representing healthcare and social
                      services, health workforce policy and institutions of
                      higher education.  Board members include the
                      following:

                      Mary Ann Abate, MS LSW
                      Vice President Public Policy, Rosecrane Health
                      Network

                      Teresa Berumen (CHW)
                      Community Health Promoter, Enlace Chicago

                      Leticia Boughton, BA (CHW)
                      Network Coordinator, Chicago Community Health Worker
                      Local Network

                      Monica Dillon, RN
                      Community/Public Health Nurse Project Manager, Loyola
                      University School of Nursing

                      Christopher Garcia (CHW)
                      Advocate/Benefits Case Manager, Champaign County
                      Health Care Consumers

                      Melissa Gutierrez Kapheim, MS
                      Project Director/Epidemiologist 2, Sinai Urban Health
                      Institute
                           
                      IDPH Announces CHW Advisory Board/ Page 2

                      Geraldine Hardy (CHW)
                      Team Lead/Program Clerk, Southern Illinois Healthcare
                      Foundation

                      Janel Hughes-Jones (CHW)
                      Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Will County Health
                      Department
                      Estela Lazo (CHW)
                      Outreach Specialist, Will County Health Dept

                      Hong Liu, PhD
                      Executive Director, Midwest Asian Health Coalition

                      Molly Martin, MD MAPP
                      Associate Professor, Pediatrics and the Institute for
                      Health Research and Policy,
                      University of Illinois at Chicago

                      Lizette Martinez (CHW)
                      Peers for Progress Coordinator, Alivio Medical Center

                      Tamela Milan, BA (CHW)
                      Maternal & Child Health Outreach, Access Community
                      Health

                      Amy Sagen, BA
                      Assistant Director for Health Policy & Strategy,
                      University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences
                      System

                      Jeffery Waddy, DrPHc, MsEd, MCHES
                      Dean of Allied Health and Sciences, South Suburban
                      College

                      Within a year of its first meeting, the CHW Advisory
                      Board will develop a report with its recommendations
                      regarding the certification process of community
                      health workers, best practices and reimbursement
                      options.  The report will also include proposed
                      curriculums, ensuring that the content, methodology,
                      development and delivery are appropriately based on
                      cultural and geographic needs and reflect relevant
                      responsibilities for CHWs.

                      “Illinois falls well below the national median in its
                      use of non-physician providers. If workforce
                      shortages are not addressed, it could limit access to
                      services and quality health care for all Illinoisans.
                      Community health workers can help fill this void and
                      increase the health of the state,” said Dr.
                      Hasbrouck.


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