Cherisse Britton, MPH Florida Department of Health Program Administrator and Jodie Lindsey, Mobile Integrated Healthcare Team Captain presented the above item.
CHW Program Focus
Program focuses on addressing the Social Determinants of Health and Closing Health Disparities
• Increasing access to health care
• Increasing access to mental health services
• Improving food security
• Increasing access to housing
• Increasing access to social services
Aligns with Alachua County's vision statement, the Safety Net Collaborative's mission, and the County Community Health Improvement Plan.
Option #1
Dept. Of Health & Alachua County Community Support Services
Program Structure: Geographic CHWs
• CHWs are Alachua County CSS employees
• Program Administrator is DOH employee
- Maintains Health Program Connection
OJT
• Via CareerSource WIOA Only Minimum Qualifications
• High School Diploma/GED
• Valid Florida Driver's License
• Ability to complete CHW course within 90 days of hire
• Ability to obtain CHW certification within 1 year of hire
Option #2
Program Housed at Community Support Services Employment:
• All Employees of Alachua County
OJT
• OJT via CareerSource – WIOA Only
Minimum Qualifications
• High School Diploma/GED
• Valid Florida Driver's License
• Ability to complete CHW course within 90 days of hire
• Ability to obtain certification within 1 year of hire
Option #3
Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) TeamCore Services
• Community-based
• Outreach and Education
• Connects with resources (transportation, food, housing and mental health care) follow up to ensure receipt
• Peers who relate to the needs of vulnerable residents
• Chronic disease management
• Medication reconciliation
• Fall prevention and house safety checks
• Linkage to medical equipment
• Opioid overdose prevention activities and
education
• Connection to telehealth
• Clinical counseling and support
Staffing
• 2 Paramedic
• 1 EMT
• 1 Social Worker
• 1 Case Manager
• 2 Peer Specialists (to become Certified CHWs)
Partners
• Mental Healthcare
• Long-term Medication Assisted Treatment
Staff Recommendations:
1. Continue the existing program structure through September 30, 2025.
2. Transition the key functions of the CHW Program to the MIH Team on October 1, 2025.
Chair chestnut exit meeting at 11:58am
Commission recessed 12:16- Commission Reconvened at 12:31
Commissioner Prizzia, Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Wheeler, Commissioner Cornell (states motion in comments), and Fire Chief Harold Thieus presented comments.
Commissioner Prizzia moved to as our team to look at court combining options 2 and 3 to have geographically assigned community health workers working in collaboration with our fire rescue integrated mobile health team. Bring back recommendations during the budget process. Fire Rescue would be in charge. The reason to combine the options is to sunset the program and only have their two mobile integrated health teams existing peer support specialist which are focused on substance abuse trained as community health workers and to add additional geographically assigned community health workers that would be dealing with general public and well being through a community health worker program. The ideal scenario would be that the employees would be hired from the community and trained to provide the service within the community. The motion carried 4-0 with Chair Chestnut out of the room.
2nd Commissioner Alford
The motion carried 4-0 with Chair Chestnut not present.
Public Comment
Khali Blount presented comments
Alford exits 1:11pm