CMK1 - Building a CHW Workforce Across Community Clinics - A Collaborative Approach

Born out of a movement in the 1960s, nonprofit community health centers have long been the source of primary care, behavioral health and dental care for the low-income communities they serve. San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium (SFCCC) has grown to represent 12 such member clinics, operating from 27 sites, providing care to 112,600 patients in San Francisco’s most vulnerable neighborhoods.

Recently, SFCCC has been able to provide funds to our member clinics to roll out a workforce development initiative focusing on Community Health Workers/Promotoras (CHW/P). This new initiative allowed for 10 community clinics, which serve different populations and communities, to work together on a new endeavor and align on various areas, such as: job descriptions, core competencies, scope of work, training, and best practices.

In this presentation, we will share, highlight, and explore with attendees the various aspects of our program that have contributed to its overwhelming success. We will review steps ranging from our program planning, candidate searching, onboarding, training, and ongoing support. We will be thought partners with our attendees as we discuss lessons learned and explore how community clinics can honor and support staff members being hired for their lived experience in a non-extractive way.