TY - JOUR
AU - M. Z. Wang
AU - L. Steinman
AU - L. Ko
AU - M. G. Bertero
AU - P. J. Raue
AU - L. Chwastiak
AU - I. G. Fillipo
AU - P. Hannon
A1 - 
AB - OBJECTIVES: The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) is an evidence-based model designed for primary care and has shown improved late-life depression outcomes. This study explored the perspectives of a non-specialist workforce, community health workers (CHWs), on adapting CoCM to community organizations by expanding CHW roles to include that of behavioral health care manager (BHCM). METHOD: Guided by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability, we conducted semi-structured interviews with CHWs from community-based and clinical settings across five states.Participants discussed their attitudes, perceived self-efficacy, and recommendations regarding four BHCM tasks: administering behavioral health measures, using a patient registry, collaborating with mental health specialists and primary care providers, and delivering psychosocial interventions. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: CHWs expressed interest, support, and perceived self-efficiacy, with traiing and supervision, for the proposed role expansion, and cited alignment with their mission and community needs. Their strengths included community trust, linkage, and knowledge of resources as a workforce. Collaborating with mental health specialists was viewed as a model strength, but collaboration with primary care providers was a potential barrier. CONCLUSION: Findings support the acceptability of developing a BHCM workforce among CHWs, but understanding the perspectives of other stakeholders would be warranted for CHW role redesign.
AD - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.; Health Promotion Research Center, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington, USA.; Department of Family Medicine, School of Family Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.; Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
AN - 41723845
BT - Aging Ment Health
C5 - Healthcare Disparities; Education & Workforce
DA - Feb 22
DO - 10.1080/13607863.2026.2632107
DP - NLM
ET - 20260222
JF - Aging Ment Health
LA - eng
N2 - OBJECTIVES: The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) is an evidence-based model designed for primary care and has shown improved late-life depression outcomes. This study explored the perspectives of a non-specialist workforce, community health workers (CHWs), on adapting CoCM to community organizations by expanding CHW roles to include that of behavioral health care manager (BHCM). METHOD: Guided by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability, we conducted semi-structured interviews with CHWs from community-based and clinical settings across five states.Participants discussed their attitudes, perceived self-efficacy, and recommendations regarding four BHCM tasks: administering behavioral health measures, using a patient registry, collaborating with mental health specialists and primary care providers, and delivering psychosocial interventions. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: CHWs expressed interest, support, and perceived self-efficiacy, with traiing and supervision, for the proposed role expansion, and cited alignment with their mission and community needs. Their strengths included community trust, linkage, and knowledge of resources as a workforce. Collaborating with mental health specialists was viewed as a model strength, but collaboration with primary care providers was a potential barrier. CONCLUSION: Findings support the acceptability of developing a BHCM workforce among CHWs, but understanding the perspectives of other stakeholders would be warranted for CHW role redesign.
PY - 2026
SN - 1360-7863
SP - 1
EP - 13+
ST - From clinics to communities: community health workers' perspectives on taking on the behavioral health care manager role for community-based geriatric depression treatment
T1 - From clinics to communities: community health workers' perspectives on taking on the behavioral health care manager role for community-based geriatric depression treatment
T2 - Aging Ment Health
TI - From clinics to communities: community health workers' perspectives on taking on the behavioral health care manager role for community-based geriatric depression treatment
U1 - Healthcare Disparities; Education & Workforce
U3 - 10.1080/13607863.2026.2632107
VO - 1360-7863
Y1 - 2026
ER -