Community Health Representative

CHR PROGRAM

The Community Health Representatives (CHR) program is often the connection to guarantee access to the comprehensive health and social services systems. CHRs are well-trained, medically-guided health care paraprofessionals. They act as liaisons and moderators between health, social, and community services to obtain access to care. Being from the communities they serve is one of the defining characteristics of the CHRs and is a critical factor in their efficacy and ability to establish trust. The trusting relationship permits the CHR to be an advocate and a facilitator to address the healthcare and social support needs to individual Native Americans/Alaskan Natives and families. They work to improve the quality and cultural competency of service delivery. CHRs build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a continuum of services to the people by providing health education, case finding, referral, follow-up and provision of support services.

CHR PROGRAM SERVICES

TRANSPORTATION

Service Area: Osage County

• Transportation provided to enrolled members of federally recognized tribes, residing within the Osage Nation service area (Osage County) with no other means of transportation; priority is given to the Wahzhazhe Health Center appointments or referrals from the Wahzhazhe Health Center.
• Transportation days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
• All minors must be accompanied by legal guardian.
• All infants and toddlers must have proper child seat restraints.
• Allow a 2 to 4 week notice when scheduling appointments.

Transportation Services not provided:

• CHR does not transport to other IHS facilities unless it is a specialty clinic that the Wahzhazhe Health Center does not offer.
• CHR does not transport to “walk-in” clinics, one must have a scheduled appointment.
• CHR does not transport appointments scheduled after 2:00 pm.
• All transports will be canceled if bad weather occurs; CHR’s also adhere to the Osage Nation Policy and Procedure for inclement weather.

Transportation Scheduling or rescheduling appointments

• Contact the CHR office
• Do not give appointment to CHRs

CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY

Child passenger safety is the means and practice of preventing injury and death of children in the event of a motor vehicle crash. Both nationally and in Oklahoma, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children. Proper child restraint use decreases the risk of death by 71% for infants younger than 1 year old and 54% for toddlers 1-4 years old.

Since 2005, the Osage Nation CHR office has worked to implement a car/booster seat program. Families may contact the CHR office to schedule an appointment to have any car or booster seat checked to determine if it is properly installed. Eligible families may receive car/booster seats at a reduced price of $15 cash.

What Does Oklahoma’s Child Restraint Law Mean for You?

• 0-2 years: Must be in a rear-facing seat until at least two (2) years of age, or until the child reaches the weight or height limit of the car seat.
• 2-4 years: Must be in a car seat with a harness until at least four (4) years of age.
• 4-8 years: Must be in a car seat or booster seat until at least eight (8) years of age unless the child is taller than 4’9”.
• 8 years or taller than 4’9”: Must be in a properly secured seat belt.

Scheduling Car Seat Checks or Car Seat Installations

• Contact the CHR office

*All CHR employees are nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians.

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION INSTRUCTOR-LED COURSES

Since 2008, the Osage Nation CHR program has been an American Heart Association Training Site under the Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training Center and provides Instructor-Led Training for the following:

Family & Friends CPR Course teaches the lifesaving skills of adult Hands-Only CPR, adult CPR with breaths, child CPR with breaths, adult and child AED use, infant CPR, and mild and severe airway block for adults, children, and infants. Skills are taught in a dynamic group environment using the AHA’s research-proven practice-while-watching technique, which provides students with the most hands-on CPR practice time possible.

Family & Friends CPR is for people who want to learn CPR but do not need a CPR course completion card to meet a job requirement. This course is ideal for community groups, new parents, grandparents, babysitters, and others interested in learning how to save a life.

Heartsaver Courses are designed for anyone with little or no medical training who needs a course completion card for job, regulatory (for example, OSHA), or other requirements. These courses can also be taken by anyone who wants to be prepared for an emergency in any setting. For many Heartsaver courses, students receive a course completion card that is valid for 2 years.

Heartsaver® CPR AED is a video-based, instructor-led course that teaches adult and child CPR and AED use, infant CPR, and how to relieve choking in adults, children, and infants. This course teaches skills with the AHA’s research-proven practice-while-watching technique, which allows instructors to observe the students, provide feedback, and guide the students’ learning of skills.

Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED is a video-based, instructor-led course that teaches students critical skills needed to respond to and manage an emergency until emergency medical services arrives. Skills covered in this course include first aid; choking relief in adults, children, and infants; and what to do for sudden cardiac arrest in adults, children, and infants.

Basic Life Support (BLS) The BLS Course trains participants to promptly recognize several life-threatening emergencies, give high-quality chest compressions, deliver appropriate ventilations and provide early use of an AED. Students participate in simulated clinical scenarios and learning stations. Students work with an AHA BLS Instructor to complete BLS skills practice and skills testing. Students also complete a written exam.

Scheduling Classes

• Contact the CHR office

*All CHR Employees are certified American Heart Association (AHA) Instructors.

AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION FREEDOM FROM SMOKING TOBACCO CESSATION CLASSES

The Freedom from Smoking program offers individuals in the Ready to Quit stage a step-by-step plan for quitting smoking. It does not focus on scare tactics or offer extensive statistical information on the health effects of smoking. The program assumes that people who come to the classes know that smoking is dangerous to their health and are planning to quit in the immediate future. While the program talks about health as a motivation to quit, it focusses on you to quit smoking and how to maintain abstinence.

Scheduling Classes

• 8 sessions held over a seven-week period
• Contact the CHR office to schedule

*All CHR employees are certified American Lung Association Freedom from Smoking facilitators.

Tai Chi for Better Balance

Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance is an evidence-based and community-based falls prevention program. Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in older adults.

The program uses eight forms that have been derived from the traditional 24-form Yang-style Tai Chi, and progresses from easy to difficult. The forms have been modified for community adults who wish to reduce their fall risk by improving their balance, strength, mobility, and confidence in performing everyday activities. Research has shown that people who complete the program are half as likely to fall and are less fearful about falling.

Health Benefits

• Improves physical health that leads to better functioning in daily activities
• Improves balance, posture, muscle strength, flexibility, and mobility
• Better mental health such as increased self-esteem and less social isolation
• Improves musculoskeletal conditions
• Improves cardiovascular functions (reduces Hypertension)
• Improves quality of sleep
• Enhances Stamina
• Increases energy level

Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance Schedule

Contact the CHR office. All CHR employees are Certified Tai Chi for Better Balance Instructors. 

IN-HOME FALL RISK ASSESSMENT

The CHR Program provides in-home assessment for a Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults or those at risk. Upon completion and findings of the Fall Prevention Checklist, participants can receive:

• Education and Recommendations to prevent risk of falls
• Non-skid Bath/Shower Mats
• Non-skid Socks
• Bedside flashlight
• Night light(s)
• Non-skid tape for rugs

Scheduling a Fall Risk Assessment

• Contact the CHR office

*The checklist used is based on the original version printed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Certified Playground Safety Inspector

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) offers the industry–leading certification program in playground safety. The Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification program is the most comprehensive training program on playground hazard identification and risk management methods offered nationwide.

CPSI’s identify hazards on public playgrounds and playground equipment, rank those hazards according to injury potential and apply that knowledge, as well as how to establish a playground safety program.

CHR CPSI services are provided to Osage Nation learning sites, public schools, and city playgrounds within the Osage Nation Service Area (Osage County).

• Playground safety issues  
• Hazard identification
• Equipment specifications
• Surfacing requirements 
• Risk management methods

Scheduling CPSI Services

• Contact the CHR office

Acudetox-National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA)

Encouraging Community Wellness for Behavioral Health including Addictions, Mental Health, and Disaster and Emotional Trauma.

The CHRs are certified by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) and trained in the NADA protocol, an ear acupressure and acupuncture intervention for trauma, substance misuse, abuse, dependence and related behavioral and mental health conditions.

Acupuncture is the world’s oldest medical science. It has been around for over 3,000 years. Acudetox auricular (ear) acupuncture is based on the fact that there are points on the body mapped out on the ear’s surface, the CHRs utilize 3-5 of these points:

• Shenmen or Spirit Gate – used for calming and relaxing
• Sympathetic – used for relieving tension 
• Liver – used to detoxify, as well as to relax and relieve anger and frustration
• Kidney – used to strengthen the willpower and release unwanted toxins 
• Lung – used to help respiration, as well as for detoxification

Sessions 30-45 minutes

Scheduling Acudetox Services

• Contact the CHR office