Consumer Advisory Board Training

1
Consumer Advisory Board Training

• An Introduction to Starting a Local Consumer
  Advisory Board

2
History of HCH

• 1983Robert Wood Johnson
• 1985HCH programs started
• 1989McKinney/Vento act
• 2000NCAB

3
What Health Centers Do

• Provide medical safety net
• Respond to community needs
• Serve diverse populations
• Advocate for needs of clients

4
Consumers in Governance

• HCH is only health care system where consumers
  are decision-making partners
• Consumer majority governing board now required

there are some exceptions
5
Purposes of Consumers in Governance

• Serve as community representatives
• Advocate for the needs of consumers
• Have input on decisions from a consumers
  perspective
• Liaison between consumers and governing board
• Provide appropriate leadership

6
What does a CAB do?

• Provide safe forum for discussion of ideas for
  improvement
• Develop future community leaders
• Transform the ideas of many into actions
• Liaison to NCAB

7
CAB Recruitment

• Culturally diverse group from different
  neighborhoods and with a variety of medical
  concerns
• Consumers who can offer possible solutions to
  problems they see
• Mix of people in housing, in shelters, and those
  without housing

8
CAB Expectations

• At least quarterly meetings
• Work together as a team with consensus
  decision-making
• Always think of future consumers and their needs

9
Code of Ethics

• Keep confidentiality, present overall ideas when
  appropriate and approved
• Allow others to make decisions for themselves,
  but not for each other or the board
• Promote social justice
• Respect the dignity of every human being

10
CAB Decision-Making

• Ideal model is consensus (NCAB uses this model)
• All viewpoints should be heard and respected
• Think about welfare of center and consumers, not
  just self

11
Helpful Hints

• Know your organizations mission and promote it
• Be willing to accept and complete tasks from the
  governing board
• Ask questions until you understand
• Avoid possible conflicts of interest
• Have realistic expectations
• Keep a sense of humor

12
Conflict

• Conflict is normal and expected
• Allow this to occur to a certain extent so that
  the team can form and start to make progress
• Dont carry conflict outside of the meeting
• Elect a chair to help manage conflict

13
Keeping Them at the Table

• Convenient meeting space and time
• Refreshments
• Well-planned agenda
• Community initiated discussions
• Encourage and value participation
• Provide previous meetings minutes

14
Giving Back

• CABs are a chance to give back to community
• Use your experience to help others in need
• Support NCABs national efforts

15
NCAB

• NCAB is a national group of consumers
• Collect information from local CABs
• Participate in national decision-making
• Committee of the National Health Care for the
  Homeless Council
• Publish newsletters