A qualitative exploration of the implementation facilitators and challenges of a community health worker program to address health disparities for people recently released from incarceration using the consolidated framework for implementation research

Abstract Background Despite the potential for community health worker (CHW)-led programs to improve the health of people with justice involvement (PWJI), little is known about the practical implementation of such models. We explored barriers and facilitators to implementation of a municipal CHW prog...

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Main Authors: Quinn O. Hood, Natalia Irvine, Krina Shah, Shahmir H. Ali, Tamar Adjoian Mezzacca, Michael Serrano, Lorna E. Thorpe, Terry T. K. Huang, Maria R. Khan, Nadia Islam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-10-01
Series:Implementation Science Communications
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-024-00653-1
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author Quinn O. Hood
Natalia Irvine
Krina Shah
Shahmir H. Ali
Tamar Adjoian Mezzacca
Michael Serrano
Lorna E. Thorpe
Terry T. K. Huang
Maria R. Khan
Nadia Islam
author_facet Quinn O. Hood
Natalia Irvine
Krina Shah
Shahmir H. Ali
Tamar Adjoian Mezzacca
Michael Serrano
Lorna E. Thorpe
Terry T. K. Huang
Maria R. Khan
Nadia Islam
author_sort Quinn O. Hood
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Despite the potential for community health worker (CHW)-led programs to improve the health of people with justice involvement (PWJI), little is known about the practical implementation of such models. We explored barriers and facilitators to implementation of a municipal CHW program, the Health Justice Network (NYC HJN), led by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) in partnership with three reentry-focused community-based organizations (CBOs) and three federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) that was designed to serve the health and social service needs of PWJI. Methods Eighteen in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of CHWs, partner site supervisors, and DOHMH staff. Interviews were conducted virtually and transcribed verbatim. Codes and themes were developed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to understand facilitators and barriers to NYC HJN implementation. Results Important facilitators to implementation included: lived experience of CHWs, as well as NYC HJN’s voluntary nature, lack of onerous eligibility criteria, and prioritization of participant needs. One barrier was the lack of a formal implementation protocol. Themes identified as facilitators in some instances and barriers in others were CHW integration into site partners, the expansive scope of work for CHWs, the integration of a trauma-informed approach, values alignment and existing infrastructure, leadership engagement, CHW training and support, and input, feedback, and communication. Conclusions Findings will help inform how to successfully implement future CHW-led interventions for PWJI with municipal, health, and social service partners.
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spelling doaj-art-62db02bc33af45e6b06b41d143c8bb9b2025-08-20T02:17:56ZengBMCImplementation Science Communications2662-22112024-10-015111010.1186/s43058-024-00653-1A qualitative exploration of the implementation facilitators and challenges of a community health worker program to address health disparities for people recently released from incarceration using the consolidated framework for implementation researchQuinn O. Hood0Natalia Irvine1Krina Shah2Shahmir H. Ali3Tamar Adjoian Mezzacca4Michael Serrano5Lorna E. Thorpe6Terry T. K. Huang7Maria R. Khan8Nadia Islam9New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Health Promotion for Justice-Impacted PopulationsDepartment of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, NYU-CUNY Prevention Research CenterDepartment of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, NYU-CUNY Prevention Research CenterDepartment of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, NYU-CUNY Prevention Research CenterDepartment of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, NYU-CUNY Prevention Research CenterNew York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Health Promotion for Justice-Impacted PopulationsDepartment of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, NYU-CUNY Prevention Research CenterCenter for Systems and Community Design, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, NYU-CUNY Prevention Research CenterDepartment of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, NYU-CUNY Prevention Research CenterDepartment of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, NYU-CUNY Prevention Research CenterAbstract Background Despite the potential for community health worker (CHW)-led programs to improve the health of people with justice involvement (PWJI), little is known about the practical implementation of such models. We explored barriers and facilitators to implementation of a municipal CHW program, the Health Justice Network (NYC HJN), led by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) in partnership with three reentry-focused community-based organizations (CBOs) and three federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) that was designed to serve the health and social service needs of PWJI. Methods Eighteen in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of CHWs, partner site supervisors, and DOHMH staff. Interviews were conducted virtually and transcribed verbatim. Codes and themes were developed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to understand facilitators and barriers to NYC HJN implementation. Results Important facilitators to implementation included: lived experience of CHWs, as well as NYC HJN’s voluntary nature, lack of onerous eligibility criteria, and prioritization of participant needs. One barrier was the lack of a formal implementation protocol. Themes identified as facilitators in some instances and barriers in others were CHW integration into site partners, the expansive scope of work for CHWs, the integration of a trauma-informed approach, values alignment and existing infrastructure, leadership engagement, CHW training and support, and input, feedback, and communication. Conclusions Findings will help inform how to successfully implement future CHW-led interventions for PWJI with municipal, health, and social service partners.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-024-00653-1ReentryPeople with justice involvement (PWJI)IncarcerationCommunity health workersPrimary health careSocial services
spellingShingle Quinn O. Hood
Natalia Irvine
Krina Shah
Shahmir H. Ali
Tamar Adjoian Mezzacca
Michael Serrano
Lorna E. Thorpe
Terry T. K. Huang
Maria R. Khan
Nadia Islam
A qualitative exploration of the implementation facilitators and challenges of a community health worker program to address health disparities for people recently released from incarceration using the consolidated framework for implementation research
Implementation Science Communications
Reentry
People with justice involvement (PWJI)
Incarceration
Community health workers
Primary health care
Social services
title A qualitative exploration of the implementation facilitators and challenges of a community health worker program to address health disparities for people recently released from incarceration using the consolidated framework for implementation research
title_full A qualitative exploration of the implementation facilitators and challenges of a community health worker program to address health disparities for people recently released from incarceration using the consolidated framework for implementation research
title_fullStr A qualitative exploration of the implementation facilitators and challenges of a community health worker program to address health disparities for people recently released from incarceration using the consolidated framework for implementation research
title_full_unstemmed A qualitative exploration of the implementation facilitators and challenges of a community health worker program to address health disparities for people recently released from incarceration using the consolidated framework for implementation research
title_short A qualitative exploration of the implementation facilitators and challenges of a community health worker program to address health disparities for people recently released from incarceration using the consolidated framework for implementation research
title_sort qualitative exploration of the implementation facilitators and challenges of a community health worker program to address health disparities for people recently released from incarceration using the consolidated framework for implementation research
topic Reentry
People with justice involvement (PWJI)
Incarceration
Community health workers
Primary health care
Social services
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-024-00653-1
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