Accessing Health Care Providers in Arkansas Many communities throughout the state have a low health literacy rate and a high distrust of health care professionals. The Community Connector Program was created to train community health workers in Arkansas to be liaisons between health care providers and members of the community. Ms. Naomi Cottoms, director of Tri-County Rural Health Network, created the program and was recognized for her efforts at an award ceremony in Washington, D.C. in December 2011. The program was established in 2003 by organizers who held community forums, participated in oneon-one conversations, and performed asset mapping. Organizers learned that citizens were not using available health resources, did not know how to access the resources, and didn’t know which resources were available, particularly in the Delta regions of the state. Trust was also a major issue, due to many years of racial problems in the Delta communities. The Community Connector Program partnered with the following organizations:
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), College of Public Health Arkansas Rural Development Network Foundation for the Mid-South Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
Ms. Cottoms said the program:
Connects citizens to health resources and encourages, motivates, and persuades people to take advantage of opportunities. Focuses on the elderly and adults living with disabilities. Ensures savings of Medicaid funds. Helps citizens access home and community-based health resources. Enables citizens to remain in their homes instead of going into a nursing home.
Ms. Cottoms explained that much of the original work was done to help demonstrate cost neutrality. A team from the UAMS College of Public Health evaluated the program, concluding that it actually saves $3.00 for every $1.00 invested. As a result the program is now funded through Medicaid. Ms. Cottoms stated that the program hires non-traditional leaders, such as lay citizens to serve as connectors. Connectors hold forums, meet in little “holes in the walls,” and go anywhere they are needed to reach citizens in their communities. The connectors are people not traditionally thought of as employees. Some Connector employees have not had a lot of work experience. Many connectors have no college experience, and some have not finished high school. Connectors begin with six to eight weeks of training. Weekly review sessions are held with the connectors to provide on-going training and monitoring. Ms. Cottoms said the curriculum and training techniques being used are very effective. The Connector Program also has developed a relationship with the Phillips Community College in Helena. A professor from Phillips Community College has implemented classes, which are offered in program satellite offices. Ms. Cottoms said the smaller setting provides a non-threatening environment for connectors who are encouraged to take college courses. Many connectors have taken classes on their own and are pursuing degrees. The program was first established in Lee, Monroe, and Phillips counties, and has expanded into 15 counties throughout the Delta region of the state. Ms. Cottoms provided the following numbers for connectors in the 15 counties:
8|Page