Ballad Health community health worker programs earn state accreditation

Accredited programs demonstrate measurable impact, including a 28% reduction in preventable inpatient utilization and a 56% increase in appropriate Care

Ballad Health’s community health worker programs, which help patients access appropriate care sooner and avoid unnecessary hospital visits, have earned accreditation from the Tennessee Community Health Worker Association (TNCHWA) in partnership with the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

The accreditation covers four Ballad Health programs — the Appalachian Highlands Care Network, PEERhelp, SBIRT and Strong Starts — that have helped support the medical and social needs of more than 40,000 people across the Appalachian Highlands.

Each program connects with people in their own communities, in clinical and community settings. These programs support individuals facing barriers such as transportation, food access and lack of insurance.

According to the TNCHWA, Ballad Health is one of 10 organizations in Tennessee to achieve accreditation for a community health worker program to date. Accreditation establishes consistent standards for how community health worker programs are trained, structured and delivered, ensuring they are aligned with proven best practices. It also strengthens the credibility of community health workers by demonstrating their programs meet recognized benchmarks and are prepared to provide reliable support as part of the broader healthcare team.

When community health workers operate within established models, they improve outcomes, reduce costs and deliver a clear return on investment. One Ballad Health evaluation found a 28% reduction in preventable inpatient utilization and a 56% increase in appropriate care. Additional research linked community health worker engagement to nearly a 25% reduction in emergency department visits, along with cost savings.

“This accreditation is a testament to the profound, lasting impact these programs have on people’s lives — and to the dedicated teams who show up for this work every single day,” said Paula Masters, chief health disparities officer for Ballad Health. “Our community health workers don’t wait behind closed doors for someone to come to them. They go where the need is — into neighborhoods, homes and communities across this region – meeting people where they are and helping them break through the real-life barriers that stand between them and better health.”

From helping a parent get to a prenatal appointment to connecting someone in recovery with support or ensuring a neighbor has food and stable housing, community health workers step in where everyday challenges can stand in the way of better health.
The accredited programs:

Appalachian Highlands Care Network

The Appalachian Highlands Care Network serves uninsured individuals, helping them access healthcare services and community resources. Community health workers coordinate care, support follow-up appointments and help patients obtain essential resources such as transportation, housing assistance and food access.

PEERhelp

PEERhelp pairs individuals with trained peer recovery specialists who have experience with substance use disorder. These peers provide one-on-one support, help people explore treatment options and link them to recovery services and community resources.

SBIRT

The SBIRT program – Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment – focuses on identifying and addressing substance use concerns early, before they lead to more serious health issues. Community health workers and clinical teams use screening tools to identify patients at risk, provide brief interventions when appropriate and refer individuals to treatment and recovery resources.

Strong Starts

Strong Starts works with pregnant women and new parents to promote healthy pregnancies and early childhood development. Community health workers provide education, care coordination and referrals to services such as prenatal care, parenting support, nutrition assistance and mental health resources.

“I deeply appreciate the support that the community health workers at Strong Starts have given me throughout my pregnancy and postpartum,” said Courtney Fowler, a recent Strong Starts participant. “Their knowledge and kindness calmed my fears, made me feel seen and made me more confident in my parenting abilities. They are so down-to-earth and easy to talk to, I’ve always felt as if I can go to them with any questions or needs. They provided me with resources, checked on me and even helped me with diapers and formula when I was in need. As someone who doesn't have a large village, it has given me such peace of mind to know I always have them in my corner.”

To earn accreditation, each program was evaluated against 216 evidence-based measures across seven core workforce and program standards. The six-month process included an application and readiness review, submission of documentation across all seven standards, internal validation of workflows and structure and an independent review of program operations.

“Care doesn’t end when a patient leaves a facility,” said Todd Norris, chief population health officer for Ballad Health. “Community health workers ensure the treatment plan survives the trip home by clearing the everyday hurdles that get in the way of recovery. This recognition reinforces the value of that work and strengthens our ability to support the communities we serve.”

Learn more about Ballad Health’s community health programs.