Tuesday, December 3, 2024
12/3/2024
Address: 1501 S Fairfield, Chicago, IL 60608-1782 Project Director: Stacy Ignoffo Office Phone Number: 773-257-2745 Email Address: stacy.ignoffo@sinai.org Website Address: https://www.sinaichicago.org/en/ Requested Funds: $2,999,989.67 Project Overview: Our project offers collaborations with local workforce development, employer, community-based, community health worker (CHW) coalitions, public health, academic and health system partners to enhance and expand innovative, collaborative, and community-engaged CHW workforce development approaches to meet the unique needs of communities and the stakeholders serving them. Over the course of three years, Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI) will recruit and train 240 new and incumbent CHWs from South Side of Chicago and the western Cook County suburbs of Chicago on core competency skills and advanced CHW specialization topics such as behavioral health, health education, and system navigation. SUHI seeks to expand the CHW workforce and support essential public health services by developing experiential learning, on the job training, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities. Staffing includes four key staff: the Project Director, a Senior Advisor, a Senior Manager, and an Evaluator currently on staff. We will engage four new staff: a Program Coordinator, Business Services Liaison, Career Coach, and a Digital Literacy Instructor. The goals and objectives align with the program goals and program objectives outlined in the NOFO. In order to achieve our goals of (1) expanding, (2) extending, and upskilling the public health workforce; (3) increasing CHW employment readiness; and (4) advancing health equity and support for underserved communities, we have identified the following objectives: 1.a. Establish educational training curricula and recruit, train and enable new CHWs candidates to acquire core competencies for CHWs and public health certifications that follow state, local, or entity guidelines an d support essential public health services 1.b. Reduce barriers to CHW program enrollment and retention by providing eligible trainees with participant support 2.a. Provide additional training for current CHWs to include the core competencies for Public Health and Essential Public Health Services. 2.b. Develop or enhance trainee curriculum around evidence-based core competencies for public health, including but not limited to emergency response education, prevention, treatment, and vaccine hesitancy research. 3.a. Implement hands-on CHW integrated training through community-based partnerships that provide field placements in underserved communities. 3.b. Provide job placement services and on-the-job experiential training to new CHWs through Department of Labor or state/local registered apprenticeship programs. 4.a. Assess and address critical gaps in public health and community needs that can be filled by CHWs in communities that are disproportionately burdened by COVID-19, health inequities, limited access to technology, and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). 4.b. Increase the distribution and diversity of the CHW workforce by recruiting, training, or employing, as applicable, individuals who will serve in underserved communities as integral members of integrated care teams. These objectives were developed in response to the current gaps in the CHW workforce; they aim to provide personalized CHW training and support, comprehensive recruitment strategies, strong mentorships, and clear pathways to sustainable careers. We will not request a funding preference although through two funded projects, SUHI is training individuals who are from disadvantaged backgrounds to join the public health workforce. From 2020-2022, the COVID-19 Response Corps served a total of 809 individuals. We do not have all the information needed to satisfy qualification #2. Our total request is $2,999,999.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
