1. 1
3
3 other nonprofit
organizations
College (1)
Hospital…
2 "other" organizations
5
5 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organizations
Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance
FACT SHEET: KENT COUNTY
In July 2014, the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance (MiCHWA) designed and conducted the
Community Health Worker (CHW) Program Survey with employers and managers of CHWs to gain a better
understanding of the work CHWs are doing in Michigan, how CHWs and their programs are funded, and what kind
of data CHW programs currently collect. The survey was distributed online to program representatives, MiCHWA’s
existing database, Web-based media, and mailing lists, and was open to all Michigan-based CHW programs. This
fact sheet provides an overview of findings from this survey for programs in Kent County. This fact sheet is
presented by MiCHWA and the Curtis Center Program Evaluation Group at the University of Michigan School of
Social Work.
Key Findings
Organizations/Programs that Employ CHWs in Kent County
9 programs represented
Health plan
Other - Public Schools
Academia/Research
Advocacy Group
Faith-based agency
Federally qualified health center
Community-based service provider
Hospital or health system
0 1 2 3 4 5
*Respondents were able to select multiple categories; total does not equal 100%
Agency Category
Number of Programs (n=9)

2. 2
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
CHWs in 8 of 9 programs work on a
multidisciplinary team. including...
Role of CHWs in their Organization/Program
CHW Titles
9 programs
Community Health Worker
1 program
Health Aide
major themes:
what the CHW
programs do
promote self-
managed care
reduce
readmissions
patient
education
provide clinical
services
outreach and
enrollment -
healthcare access
home visits
promote healthy
lifestyles/
prevention
Average number of
clients served by program annually:
646
Range: 12 - 2,000 clients
SD: 655 clients
Average number of
clients per CHW caseload:
51
Range: 7 - 100 clients
SD: 31 clients

3. 3
Community rapport: “best able to form trusting relationships, serve
as role models, and engage and retain the most vulnerable families
in our community;” “ability to engage with, and relate to, our
clientele;” “Many CHWs share similar life experiences, backgrounds
and characteristics of clients being served. As a result, they are able
to connect with clients”
Cultural barriers: “serve as cultural brokers and bring a unique
personal and professional expertise”
Community knowledge: “Some are former program participants
themselves, so have firsthand knowledge of our program and its
benefits;” “important to have workers from the communities we
serve;” “connect families to health resources in their community”
Outcome achievement: “Effective delivery method, high rate of
client engagement and outcome achievement. Cost effective;”
“work at a grassroots level and break down barriers that otherwise
are impediments to overall health”
primary reasons
for employing
CHWs
CHW
Roles
4 outreach and
community
mobilization 6 home-based
support
6 health promotion and
health coaching
4 community/
cultural liaison
7 systems navigation
6 case management
and care coordination
1 participatory
research
1 peer
counselors
1 school
health aide
6 - 8 programs
3 - 5 programs
0 - 2 programs

4. 4
Services are delivered in the following locations
6 programs
Client's
home
5 programs
Community
events
School
4 programs
Agency's
location
3 programs
Community
health
center
Hospital
Shelters
2 programs
Nonprofit
organization
On the street
Faith-based
organization
Other
•School-based
health clinic
•Various
community
sites
1 program
Health
maintenance
organization
Migrant
camp
Private clinic
Public
housing unit
Client's work
site
format of
services
delivered for
9 programs
1 program: telephone
4 programs: outreach in your agency’s setting
(clinic, office)
6 programs: home visits
5 programs: group classes or sessions
outreach in community settings
2 programs: group classes or session

5. 5
8 programs with
full-time CHWs
Average: 8.3
Range: 1-28
4 programs with
part-time CHWs
Average: 4.8 CHWs
Range: 1-14 CHWs
adding fringe benefits
certificate from program
promotion
program awards/recognition
conference participation
wage increase
educational leave
cell phone reimbursement
professional development
parking
milage reimbursement
personal leave
tuition assistance
health insurance
pension or retirement plan
sick leave
vacation accrual
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
*Respondents were able to select multiple categories; total does not equal 100%
CHWs in the 9 programs receive the following:
CHW Staffing/Compensation
Hourly salary range:
$10 - $18.80
Yearly salary range:
$32,000 -$41,000
benefits
toretain/
recognition

6. 6
CHW Training and Skills
CHWs in 7 of 9 agencies provide for core competency-based training.
CHWs in 9 of 9 agencies provide for program-specific training.
Trainings provided by:
 First Steps and Health Net of West Michigan
 In-house education team and peer preceptors.
 Spectrum Health/Kent Intermediate School District
 Spectrum Healthier Communities Education Team
 Various. Program staff, Planned Parenthood, Partners for a Racism-Free Community, etc.
 The integrated health team
communications
housing assistance, employment, diabetes, heart disease
prenatal care, post-partum care, infant care
professional behavior/expectations; personal/professional boundaries
writing and research methods
Education of CHW workers in the field
7 of 9 CHW programs require CHWs to have a High School Diploma/GED.
2 of 9 have no requirement.
0 of 9 CHW require that the CHW be bilingual.
3 of 9 CHW programs require that the CHW have prior experience working in the community.
1 of 9 CHW programs require that CHWs have prior health-related experience.
continuing
education is
required for
2 of 9
agencies
topics of interest for continuing education

7. 7
Populations served (out of 9 programs with CHWs)
5 programs working with
youth (ages 5-18)
5 programs working with
young adults (ages 18-25)
5 programs working with
adults (26-64)
4 programs working with
seniors (ages 65+)
age of population
9 programs
Black or African American
race/ethnicity
8 programs
Hispanic or Latino
7 programs
White
2 programs American Indian
and Alaska Native
2 programs Arab American/
Middle Eastern Descent
2 programs
Asian
2 programs Native Hawaiian
and Other Pacific Islander
1 program other
Other refugee groups
6 programs working with
children (ages 0-5)

8. 8
income assistance
education assistance
oral health
employment
housing
food security
other
connecting to resources
HIV/AIDS
health insurance coverage
cancer
infant mortality
heart disease
hypertension
maternal/child health
health literacy
asthma
physical activity
obesity
nutrition
other
diabetes
mental/behavioral health
migrant workers
isolated rural residents
other
immigrants
homeless
frequent ED users
uninsured populations
pregnant women and infants
individuals without a PCP
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
of the 9 programs, number of programs serving specific populations or
addressing specific health or social issues
specifichealthissuesspecificsocialissuesspecialpopulations
3 Programs
Free and reduced lunch at school
Children
Elementary and High School Students
5 Programs
Family Planning/Birth Control
Breastfeeding
Life-Threatening Allergies, Seizures, ADD/ADHD,
Sickle Cell, Special Needs with Multi-Problem
Health Conditions
COPD
Reducing unintended pregnancy and promoting
early pregnancy recognition
5 Programs
ADHD and other Behavioral Health issues
Connection to insurance, transportation
Promoting access to health care
Transportation, access to health care
Transportation, basic needs, health care compliance

9. 9
local grants
self-generated revenue
state grants
foundation grants
other public funding
federal grants
nonprofit grants
allocating funding/community benefit
0 1 2 3 4
funding sources for 9 CHW programs
Funding Mechanisms
CHW programs in 7 of 9 agencies are sustained by renewed funding (rather than initial funding).
Funding for CHW programs in 2 of 9 agencies are connected to a research project.
CHW programs in 1 of 9 agencies are reimbursed by insurance (Medicaid Managed Care).
Barriers to Sustainability
9 programs provide ongoing support or training for CHWs
7 programs provide provider education
5 programs provide CHW professional development
barriers to
retaining
CHWs in
program
3 of 9 programs: management support for CHWs
5 of 9 programs: funding uncertainty
1 of 9 program: staff turnover, finding qualified
CHWs, agency support, promotions
strategies to increase sustainability