The Role of Evaluation in Developing and Sustaining Community Health Worker Coalitions: The Example of the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance.
Community health workers (CHWs) have demonstrated effectiveness in improving health outcomes and addressing health inequities. Statewide CHW coalitions are supporting expansion of the CHW workforce and influencing health policy. Evaluations can play a key role in sustaining coalitions. This article discusses how evaluation has informed the development, processes, and initiatives of the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance. We highlight the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance's internal process evaluation, a statewide survey of CHW programs, and other evaluation activities to illustrate how CHW coalitions can use participatory evaluation to develop and reinforce coalition strengths and accomplish mutual goals.
School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Dr Kieffer and Ms Mitchell); Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Health Care System, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Mr Yankey); Behavioral Science & Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Allen); University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor (Dr Janevic); Community Health and Social Services Center, Inc, Detroit, Michigan (Mss Thomas and Palmisano); Robert Wood Johnson/VA Clinical Scholars Program, and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Dr List); Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Dr List); and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing (Dr Roman).
Edith C
EC
Kieffer
Nicholas
N
Yankey
Katherine
K
Mitchell
Caitlin G
CG
Allen
Mary R
MR
Janevic
Claireta
C
Thomas
Justin
J
List
Gloria
G
Palmisano
Lee Anne
LA
Roman
D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008824:Michigan; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires