FAIRMONT– The Martin County CHW Project is moving forward with seeking a full-time community health worker to go out and assist seniors in Martin County. The project, which has local backing, is made possible thanks to a three-year grant of $350,000 from the Schmeeckle Foundation.

Dr. Tim Bachenberg and Pastor Russell Reimers were the initial forces behind the project. What started as a plan to get meals to seniors in rural parts of the county has grown. Now the focus of the program is getting a CHW who will go to the homes of those who are 65 and older and evaluate what needs to be done to safely keep them in the home.

Eric Snyder, a consultant who specializes in providing counsel to the nonprofit sector, is a facilitator of the project. He said in February a steering committee of 19 different people and entities which will oversee the project was formed.

This includes Bachenberg and Reimers, representatives from the Minnesota Department of Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Human Services of Faribault and Martin Counties, Mayo Clinic Health Systems, United Hospital District and other community members.

The committee also developed the job description for the CHW that’s now posted. It says that key responsibilities are promoting the program to community partners, referral sources and eligible clients; establishing and managing a schedule of face-to-face and virtual visits with seniors in the community; helping seniors navigate systems and technologies; identifying the root cause of seniors’ challenges.

“We have found a partner firm, CHW Solutions, based in St. Paul. They have community health workers all over the state that they manage on behalf of groups like ours,” Snyder said.

The local CHW that they’re hiring for Martin County will actually be an employee of CHW Solutions, which Snyder said is important because the firm will be able to provide tools, resources and guidance for the local employee.

As for requirements, it’s preferred that a candidate will be CHW certified, however; if they’re not, the program will pay for them to get certified, which is where a portion of the grant money comes in.

“Certification isn’t required for them to go into the field and help people, but it is required to be a reimbursable service under Medicaid,” Snyder explained.

As for determining what seniors in Martin County need this service, Snyder said referrals will come from community partners like churches and non-profit agencies. He said when they identify someone who needs help, they can refer it to the CHW.

“There really aren’t any criteria that would make you eligible or not,” Snyder said.

Medicaid will pay for some of the services, and if someone is not Medicaid eligible, there is a sliding fee scale that allow for people to pay as they’re able for the services that are provided.

According to MNRAA data from 2017, there were 1,398 seniors, aged 65 and older, living alone in Martin County, which is the target audience.

“Even though we’re starting out with one CHW, we feel like we can make a pretty significant impact,” Snyder said, noting that not all of them would need the services of a CHW.

Getting someone hired and trained is the first piece. Snyder said as soon as someone is hired, they can go out into the field with a CHW trainer to do some home visits until the local person is comfortable doing it themselves.

It’s open for anyone to apply but Snyder said some of the appeal is that it’s a hands-on, face-to-face job so the person will need to live in or near Martin County.

“If people are open to relocating that will be great, but it’s really intended to be a local-focused job,” Snyder said.

He said they’re looking for people who enjoy working with seniors and enjoy solving problems and connecting them to resources in the community.

“For people who like being at the center of innovative projects, this is a good example of that. Ultimately it’s a good way to make an impact on your community,” Snyder said.

Down the line, they’re open to expanding the program by adding another CHW after its initial launch.

“Our hope is that we’re also building a model that other rural communities can emulate,” Snyder said.

If anyone is interested and would like more information, they can visit the CHW Solutions website at chwsolutions.com. The deadline to apply is April 30.