FERTALY: Participatory Evaluation of the Missoula Community Health Worker Program for Equity and Resilience
Project Description:
Partnership Health Center, All Nations Health Center, and the Missoula City-County Public Health Department are initiating a Community Health Worker Program to improve health equity and support community resiliency. The purpose of the three-year program is to connect marginalized groups (low-income families, people experiencing homelessness, and people with comorbidities that increase their risk of COVID19, and Missoula area Indigenous population) with needed health and social support services in Missoula through community organizing. The Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities will conduct the program evaluation. The evaluation will be participatory evaluation where key stakeholders including program managers, community health workers, and community residents will provide input on the design and implementation of the evaluation. The evaluation will use mixed methods, triangulating quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data will come from Partnership Health, All Nations Health Center, and the Missoula County Public Health Department. While the final measures have not yet been determined, quantitative measures may include specific health outcomes, use of services, and referrals. Qualitative data will be collected through interviews, focus groups, and participant observation with community health workers and community residents. The information collected will be reported to the CDC and to partner organizations. It will be used to understand the direct and indirect outcomes of the CHW program, make recommendations for quality improvement, and to improve access to services among marginalized groups.
Keyword(s):
Community Health Worker, Equity, Resilience, Participatory Evaluation
Core Function(s):
Performing Research or Evaluation
Area of Emphasis
Health-Related Activities, Housing-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other
Target Audience:
Adults with Disabilities, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
