1. 1. “Accredited” means approved by the:

   1. a. New England Commission of Higher Education,
   2. b. Middle States Commission on Higher Education,
   3. c. Higher Learning Commission,
   4. d. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities,
   5. e. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or
   6. f. WASC Senior College and University Commission.
2. 2. “Administrative completeness review time-frame” has the same meaning as in A.R.S. § 41-1072.
3. 3. “Applicant” means an individual who submits an application and required documentation for approval to practice as a certified CHW.
4. 4. “Behavioral health services” means information and care provided by certified or licensed behavioral health professionals consistent with practices specified in A.R.S. § 32-3251(8).
5. 5. “Calendar day” means each day, not including the day of the act, event, or default from which a designated period of time begins to run and including the last day of the period unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, statewide furlough day, or legal holiday, in which case the period runs until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, statewide furlough day, or legal holiday.
6. 6. “Certification” means an approval granted to individuals who meet the qualifications, including education and training requirements, in this Article for certified CHWs.
7. 7. “Certified CHW” means the same as a “certified community health worker” in A.R.S. § 36-765.
8. 8. “CHW” means the same as a “community health worker” in A.R.S. § 36-765.
9. 9. “CHW trainer” means an individual who meets the requirements in R9-16-803 and provides training and supervision to individuals who seek certification as a certified CHW.
10. 10. “CHW training program” means approved community health education and instruction required for individuals seeking a CHW certification issued by the Department.
11. 11. “Client” means an individual receiving community health services provided by a certified CHW.

12. 12. “Community Health Representative” or “CHR” means an individual who has completed an Indian Health Services National Training Program for:

    1. a. Basic training through completing general health education to promote health and social services and assist in the prevention of disease and disabilities in tribal communities; or
    2. b. Advanced training through increased health and knowledge for a variety of public health topics designed to improve outreach capacity to advance tribal health systems.

13. 13. “Community health services” means non-medical support, care, and assistance:

    1. a. Specified in the scope of practice and core competencies in this Article;
    2. b. Provided by a certified CHW to a client on behalf of a service provider, whether physical health services or behavioral health services; and
    3. c. Improves the quality of delivery and coordination of care resulting in better medical and behavioral health outcomes.
14. 14. “Continuing education” means a course that provides training and instruction that is designed to develop or improve a certified CHW’s or certified CHW trainer’s professional competence in areas directly related to the practice of a CHW.
15. 15. “Contractor” means the same as in A.R.S. § 36-2901.

16. 16. “Core competencies” means curriculum that provides knowledge to develop core skills and assume job responsibilities, including:

    1. a. Communication skills,
    2. b. Interpersonal and relationship-building,
    3. c. Service coordination and navigation,
    4. d. Capacity-building,
    5. e. Advocacy,
    6. f. Education and facilitation,
    7. g. Individual and community assessment,
    8. h. Outreach,
    9. i. Professional skills and conduct,
    10. j. Evaluation and research skills, and
    11. k. Knowledge base.
17. 17. “Course” means a workshop, seminar, lecture, conference, or class.

18. 18. “Direct services” means personal interaction to assist or deliver care provided by a certified CHW, including:

    1. a. Transportation assistance,
    2. b. Fall risk assessments,
    3. c. Welfare checks,
    4. d. Employment assistance, and
    5. e. Other similar health and social services not provided by a licensed health or behavioral health professional.
19. 19. “Documentation” means information in written, photographic, electronic or other permanent form.
20. 20. “Licensed health care facility” means the same as “health care institution” specified in A.R.S. § 36-401.
21. 21. “National Training Program” means a health education and skills management curriculum approved by Indian Health Services for individuals wishing to obtain a CHR certification to provide community health services in a tribal and Native community.

22. 22. “Observation” means to witness:

    1. a. The provision of community health services to a client, or
    2. b. A demonstration of how to provide community health services to a client.
23. 23. “Organization” means a person specified in A.R.S. § 1-215, and includes a tribal government.
24. 24. “Overall time-frame” has the same meaning as in A.R.S. § 41-1072.
25. 25. “Person” means the same as in A.R.S. § 1-215 and includes a governmental agency.
26. 26. “Physical health services” means information and care provided by licensed health professionals consistent with practices specified in A.R.S. § 32-3201.
27. 27. “Service provider” means a person, who engages in practice of health professionals specified in A.R.S. § 32-320, and behavioral health professionals specified in A.R.S. § 32-3251(8) who provide services to clients according to a contract or service agreement.
28. 28. “Supervision” means training and monitoring provided by a certified CHW trainer specified in A.R.S. § 36-765.02(A)(5) to prepare individuals wishing to obtain a CHW certification.
29. 29. “Training and instruction” means educational activities that develop and improve an individual’s professional competence in areas related to the practice as a certified CHW specified in A.R.S. § 36-765 and specific to the delivery of services identified in CHW’s scope of practice and core competencies specified in this Article.

In addition to the definitions in A.R.S. § 36-765, the following definitions apply in this Article, unless otherwise specified:

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 28 A.A.R. 2552 (September 30, 2022), effective November 7, 2022 (Supp. 22-3).