FY24 Office of Community Health Workers CL3 (C3644)

ABSTRACT: The Department for Public Health received a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to utilize Community Health Workers to implement evidence-based interventions and strategies related to addressing health disparities related to COVID-19, underlying chronic conditions and social determinants of health for underserved populations. This includes ethnic and racial minority populations and rural communities and individuals with disabilities. These funds are specific to expanding and strengthening the Community Health Worker workforce through the strategies of “Train, Deploy, and Engage.” The Kentucky Office of Community Health Workers, through the Department of Public Health, Division of Prevention and Quality Improvement shall contract with the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI) to develop and implement training for Community Health Workers on the principles of universal design and disability and health, identify appropriate resources and gaps in resources for CHWs related to COVID-19 and secondary conditions with special populations. This contract will ensure that CHWs are trained in the need and ability to convey materials and resources in a universal way that meets community members where they are and provide them resources that are accurate in both content and messaging that promote informed decision-making for healthier lives. The Kentucky Department for Public Health received a five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention titled, “A Comprehensive Public Health Approach to Asthma Control Through Evidence-Based Interventions.” The grant work focuses on implementing evidence-based strategies to improve asthma control services and reduce asthma morbidity, mortality and disparities. The Kentucky Asthma Management Program, through the Kentucky Department of Public Health, Division of Prevention and Quality Improvement, shall contract with the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute to review and revise current asthma education tools and services in ways that are mindfully and expertly adapted to the physical disability community. This contract will ensure that asthma health care providers and personnel are adequately trained in evidence based strategies for asthma education for people with physical disabilities. HDI will also work to review and adapt resources on Asthma health for universal design principles to be inclusive of special populations with particular focus on people with disabilities, youth, and use in school settings. HDI will develop and implement trainings on how to implement the universally designed resources. HDI will also work to review and adapt resources on Asthma health for universal design principles to be inclusive of special populations with particular focus on adults and youth with disabilities and their caregivers. HDI will develop and implement trainings on how to implement the universally designed resources.