On Friday, June 23, 2023, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, in partnership with Oregon Health and Science University and Familias en Acción, presented a hybrid event on the role community health workers play in improving the health of the U.S. workforce.
As defined by the American Public Health Association, community health workers are frontline public health workers who are either trusted members of the community they serve or have an unusually close understanding of the community. The workers serve as liaisons or intermediaries between community members and other health or social services workers, with the goal of improving both community members’ access to services and quality of care.
Discussion at the event focused on the economic impact of community health worker programs, including past research on the topic and a pilot program in Oregon that seeks to show the advantages that employers gain from providing community health workers as an employee benefit. The discussion was intended for an audience of corporate leaders, insurers, policymakers, community health workers, and community-based organizations and foundations.
June 23, 2023
10:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT
(Pre-event breakfast, beginning at 9:00 am)
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Auditorium
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY
(Hybrid event.)
This hybrid event was open to the public.
This event was open to the media. All remarks were on the record and the event was recorded, with the recording to be made available afterwards. For media inquiries, please contact Ellen Simon at Ellen.Simon@ny.frb.org.
Agenda
| 10:00am-10:05am | Opening Remarks Tony Davis, Director of Community Outreach & Health, Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
| 10:05am-10:15am | Community Health Workers in the U.S.: Role and Impact on Health and the Economy Denise Octavia Smith, Executive Director, National Association of Community Health Workers |
| 10:15am-10:25am | The Evidence That Supports Community Health Worker Programs Dr. Shreya Kangovi, Professor, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania CEO, IMPaCT Care |
| 10:25am-10:35am | The Economics of Health Equity in the Workplace Karen Moseley, President & CEO, Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) |
| 10:35am-11:00am | Employer Perspective Dr. Steven Serra, Executive Director, Physician Consulting, Aetna |
| 11:00am-11:45am | Expanding the Reach and Potential of Community Health Workers Moderator: Otho Kerr, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Impact Investing, Federal Reserve Bank of New York Dr. Morgan McDonald, National Director of Population Health and Health Equity Leadership, Milbank Memorial Fund Doug Wirth, President and CEO, Amida Care Dr. Creshelle Nash, Medical Director for Health Equity and Public Programs, Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield Dr. Gia Rutledge, Associate Director of Health Equity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| 11:45am-12:00pm | Spotlight – Community Health Worker Project in Oregon Dr. Brian Frank, Assistant Professor, Oregon Health & Science University Jaeme Miranda, Director of Community Health Worker Services, Familias en Acción |
