Community health aide

Community Health Aides (CHAs) will be authorized to provide services in IHS-operated health programs once CHAs series and classification of position descriptions are created and approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
This requirement does not apply to ISDEAA contractors.

Community Health Aide Program (CHAP).
The program certifies and provides education and training of Tribal community health providers who work as part of a team with other health professionals to provide health care, health promotion, and disease prevention services.
CHAP currently includes ,three provider types listed below:.

The policy encompasses community-based provider selection, culturally tailored care and curriculum, and competency-based education.
The policy is also inclusive of health aides as part of a team of healthcare providers focused on providing effective, efficient, and patient- centered care, consistent with the structure of the Alaska CHAP.

The Community Health Aide Program is a network of about 550 Community Health Aides/Practitioners (CHA/Ps) in more than 170 rural Alaska villages

CHA/Ps are part of an established referral relationship that includes mid-level providers, physicians, regional hospitals, and the Alaska Native Medical Center

The program also trains new BHAs and supports current BHAs by providing resources, materials and guidance that can be used to enhance training and services, and by recognizing the knowledge and skills of BHAs through certification by the Community Health Aide Program Certification Board