For the past seven years, Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS) has been training Community Health Workers (CHWs). SI PPS is an apprenticeship sponsor and has trained over 200 CHWs in New York City and Long Island. SI PPS partners with employers to graduate trainees by providing additional support such as mentorship, transportation stipends, financial incentives, and job preparation. College of Staten Island is the key training partner to offer a certified community health worker training program.

SI PPS has been designated as a Social Care Network released which was announced by Governor Hochul on August 7, 2024. Social Care Networks will address health disparities in low-income communities by leveraging federal funding to connect Medicaid members to nutritional meals, housing supports, transportation and other social services. CHWs will be an integral member connecting Medicaid members to services to impact the individual’s overall health.

This week is National Community Health Worker Awareness week. Staten Island Performing Provider System is an apprenticeship sponsor and would like to acknowledge the great work being done by our partnering employers and apprentices in Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Long Island.

A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member or has a particularly good understanding of the community served. CHWs are some of the most trusted voices in the community when it comes to health because they come from the communities they serve. And they are one of the best ways to tackle health inequity and health disparities.

CHWs serve as a liaison between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and to improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. CHWs can operate under many different titles including Patient Navigator, Community Health Advisor, Maternal/Infant Health Outreach Specialist, Peer Educator, etc.

One of the CHWs that SI PPS sponsored was Crystal Deleon from Community Health Center of Richmond (CHCR). Crystal leads the Enhanced Postpartum Care Project for CHCR. She creates postpartum plans for the fourth trimester alongside patients. Crystal also provides follow-up postpartum check-ins, educational workshops on childbirth for expecting mothers, safe sleep, and breastfeeding. Crystal said “The most rewarding part of her Community Health Worker apprenticeship is reconnecting with mothers and checking in after they deliver the baby”.

In addition to CHCR, there are several employers that we would like to highlight for the CHW apprenticeship. These partners offer services for the homeless, individuals living with HIV, and people with chronic conditions. These are the partners we have worked with for the CHW program:

1. A Chance in Life

2. AIRnyc

3. Central Family Life Center

4. Community Health Action of Staten Island

5. Community Health Center of Richmond

6. Long Island Coalition for the Homeless

7. Harmony Healthcare Long Island

8. Maimonides

9. Make the Road New York

10. Project Hospitality

11. Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness

The SI PPS CHW training program has 3 phases:

1. The first phase is all virtual. This is the CHW training program provided by College of Staten Island, held 3 evenings per week on Zoom, for 8 weeks. Each session meets for 2-3 hours.

2. The second phase provides upskilling for an additional 5 weeks with three evenings per week virtually on Zoom. Each session meets for 2-3 hours.

3. The third phase is all in-person and is a 6-week on-the-job training program at clinical partner sites such as hospitals, federally qualified health center and/or an ambulatory care center. $600-$1,200 stipend available for trainee.

This past year, Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS) sponsored the Lay Counselor training. The Lay Counselor Academy provided a 14-week course for lay counselors who are people without traditional mental health education but can complete the Lay Counselor Academy training to learn how to provide crucial support to community members in need.

SI PPS will continue to sponsor training programs so if you or anyone you know are interested, please reach out to Connor Stapleton at cstapleton@statenislandpps.org to find out more details. We are accepting applicants until 9/9/24.