Train and EMPOWER A Community Health Workforce

N/AEnrolling By InvitationNCT06868498

Baylor Research Institute250 enrolled

Overview

The investigators propose a multi-step approach to improve access to mental health care. The plan focuses on three goals: increasing diversity in the mental health workforce, bringing more expertise into the community, and strengthening the community's ability to address the factors that impact mental health. To do this, the TEACH study team will work with students from underrepresented groups at a minority-serving institution (MSI). Students will be provided the opportunity to obtain their CHW Certification while receiving course credit for their degree. Students will then be eligible to participate in an internship to utilize their skills. The TEACH study team will help these students with their training, supervision, and ongoing support. These students will then be able to work with their communities to tackle common mental health issues and the social factors that contribute to those problems.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

250

Conditions

CHW Certification

Interventions

Students will participate in a special topics course resulting in a CHW certification with the state of Texas. The course will focus on behavioral activation training. Undergraduate Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students will then be deployed to the Baylor Scott and White Health system as certified CHWs with psychosocial training to provide a sufficient level of care for many, and an entry point to clinical care for those who have needs that are currently unaddressed.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Must be enrolled as a UTA undergraduate student with unmet internship hours * Must be aged 18 and over * Must be able to provide informed consent. * Must have successful completion of the UTA CHW/EMPOWER course (Phase 2) and/or State of Texas CHW certification (for non-EMPOWER-trained CHWs) at the start of internship Exclusion Criteria: * Under 18 years * Not enrolled as an undergraduate student at UTA * Unable to provide informed consent * Non-successful completion of EMPOWER course and/or State of Texas CHW certification at the start of internship

Locations (2)

The University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, Texas, United States

Baylor Scott and White Research Institute

Dallas, Texas, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Community Health Worker certification plus EMPOWER

Successful completion of the Special Topics course (to include EMPOWER training) which leads to CHW certification.

Time frame: Six months after consent/enrollment

Secondary Outcomes

Internship completion

Successful placement and completion of required undergraduate internship with TEACH partner, Baylor Scott and White Health System

Time frame: Two semesters after the completion of the CHW course

Behavioral Activation (BA) competencies

Successful demonstration of competencies in BA skills as measured by the World Health Organization EQUIP tool (https://equipcompetency.org/)

Time frame: Upon completion of the BA training as measured during the internship