Train and EMPOWER A Community Health Workforce to Achieve Equity and Reduce Disparities in Mental Health

Conditions

• CHW Certification

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• A semester-long course for training of students as CHWs with additional EMPOWER training for delivering a brief trans-diagnostic psychosocial intervention. — OTHER
  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 interventions. Undergraduate Bachelor of Social Work (BSWs) students will then be deployed to the health system as certified CHWs with mental health 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.

Study Details

The investigators suggest a multi-step approach to improve access to mental health care for minority groups. 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 racial and ethnic groups at a minority-serving school. 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.

Key Dates

Start date

Aug 6, 2024

Status verified

Feb 2026

Primary completion

May 31, 2028

Completion

Dec 31, 2029

Study Design

Enrollment

1,500 participants (estimated)

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Arms

• Experimental: EMPOWER-trained CHWs
  Undergraduate students at the University of Texas at Arlington will engage in a semester-long course for training of students as CHWs with additional EMPOWER training for delivering a brief trans-diagnostic psychosocial intervention. CHW certified students will then engage in an internship at Baylor Scott and White Health.
• No Intervention: Non-EMPOWER-trained interns
  Intern health workers who have not undergone the EMPOWER training curriculum will engage in an internship at Baylor Scott and White Health.

Primary Outcome Measure

Job Placement [ Time Frame: 12 months after the intervention has ended ]

Locations (1)

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