Pay for Success Agreement to Fund Rural Community Health Workers
Media Release
March 11, 2024
OKLAHOMA CITY — A recently signed Pay for Success agreement will help the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) enhance the impact of the Community Health Workers (CHWs) they employ. With the goal of improving health outcomes, the agreement provides funding for 14 CHWs and one supervisor in 10 public health districts throughout rural Oklahoma.
Pay for Success is a public-private partnership in which private funding is provided upfront to evidence-based or promising programs and government only pays for successful results. If the program is not successful, government pays nothing and ensures accountability for taxpayer dollars.
Community Health Workers are instrumental in strengthening the healthcare system as they actively champion health and well-being within communities. Leveraging trusted community members, CHWs establish inherent cultural and social connections with the target population. This approach serves as a vital bridge, effectively spanning the cultural and language gaps that may exist between community members and healthcare providers.
Until recently, the only CHWs in the state were primarily located in the two autonomous public health organizations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. In 2021, utilizing federal COVID-19 relief funds, the OSDH hired its first 42 CHWs. As COVID-19 funds expire, the new Pay for Success funding agreement will allow OSDH to continue funding 14 CHWs and a new supervisor position. Additionally, the Pay for Success funding will pay for travel and expenses, as well as provide hardware and software for the employees.
"The CHW program has proven to be a valuable resource for the communities we serve,” Commissioner of Health Keith Reed said. “We look forward to continuing to help Oklahomans in a meaningful way through this collaborative effort. We anticipate the CHW program will continue to help us lead Oklahoma to prosperity through health.”
Health education, advocacy, outreach, care coordination, cultural mediation, and support for behavior change are some of the services the CHWs provide. They will accept client referrals from settings such as county health departments, the Veteran’s Administration, Indian Health Services, Federally Qualified Health Centers, hospitals, private healthcare providers, non-profit organizations, social service agencies, and faith-based organizations from 68 Oklahoma counties.
The CHWs will work with clients to develop action plans to improve their health, assist them with executing the plan, and provide follow-up assessments of their progress, continued needs, or completion of the plan.
The Pay for Success agreement to fund the CHWs was reached between the OSDH and the Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative (Collaborative), a subsidiary of MetaFund. The Community Outcomes Fund at Maycomb Capital will provide a substantial portion of the Pay for Success financing—a flexible working capital loan repaid as outcomes are achieved—to the Collaborative, alongside co-investors. In turn, the Collaborative will provide upfront funding for CHWs .
Sharayah Fore, Vice President of Impact for MetaFund, stated, “The Collaborative is not only elated to support CHWs whose impact on health outcomes is substantiated by research, but we are also excited that we are making this a collaborative venture with partners beyond our state borders. Maycomb Capital's substantial contribution to the loan enables us to positively enhance the well-being of Oklahomans. For this invaluable support, we extend our heartfelt gratitude.”
“We at Maycomb are honored to finance this important effort to improve health access and results for communities across Oklahoma,” said Andi Phillips, Founder and Managing Partner of the Community Outcomes Fund. “CHWs are a crucial part of addressing health disparities, especially for families and individuals in rural areas. We are excited to help OSDH grow their program in alignment with outcomes and pave the way for more Pay for Success projects in the state.”
For more information about MetaFund and the Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative, visit www.metafund.org or call 405-949-0001.
Media Contact:
Ed Long, President, Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative
Phone: (405) 922-7580
Email: Elong@metafund.org
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