Friday, April 19, 2024
HSC representatives and CHW colleagues from local organizations receive a proclamation
from the Tarrant County Commissioners Court declaring Community Health Worker Week
in Tarrant County.
In recognition of the important role of community health workers, their leadership and their impact on communities, Community Health Worker Week 2024 is being celebrated nationally April 22-28.
The at Fort Worth 鈥檚 State Health Services Certified celebrates that community health workers build healthier communities nationwide, one person at a time.
CHWs serve as a critical resource supporting public health and health literacy, especially for underserved and rural communities, improving health care access and patient safety, increasing preventive care, and connecting communities with important health and wellness resources. The School of Public Health鈥檚 Community Health Worker Training Center provides no-cost, grant-funded certification and continuing education to strengthen the public health workforce across Texas and help empower communities. Courses run 10 hours a week for 16 weeks in an online hybrid format.
鈥淗SC鈥檚 training center serves as an integral part of the School of Public Health鈥檚 strategic plan 鈥� 鈥� equipping graduates to bring their communities together to make things better for the and well-being of those who live there,鈥� said Dr. Teresa Wagner, School of Public Health associate professor of , and director of HSC鈥檚 Texas State Certified CHW and CHW Instructor training program.
鈥淐HWs work across the life course, helping to elevate health equity, especially in underserved and rural communities that may not have resources or the ability to access them. CHWs have always been the conduit to support the goal of building a healthier future for everyone across the nation,鈥� she added.
The recent class of HSC community health worker graduates each have unique reasons for seeking the training and their plans for applying what they鈥檝e learned within their communities.
Terry Flood: social science trainer, Department of Veterans Affairs
Terry Flood teaches practitioners effective communication strategies for engaging with veterans facing crises, feeling unseen, or struggling with illnesses like traumatic brain injury, mental health challenges or neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis. Flood is also a foster parent who advocates for vulnerable youth, and is involved in the veteran and homeless communities, focusing on mental health and disability advocacy.
鈥淢y journey has been deeply personal and shaped by a series of profound life experiences,鈥� Flood said.
鈥淏orn into poverty as the youngest of five siblings, I witnessed firsthand the harsh realities of the health-wealth dynamic from an early age. My life was further complicated by multiple sclerosis diagnoses in 2009, enduring the loss of my father due to medical
malpractice, and sustaining two traumatic brain injuries along with PTSD from combat service in Afghanistan. These experiences, coupled with a significant socioeconomic transition through military service, crystallized my understanding of health care鈥檚 crucial role.鈥�
鈥淭he pivotal moment came when witnessing my father鈥檚 suffering and eventual passing, I vowed to ensure that no one else endured such pain without support,鈥� Flood said. 鈥淭his resolve led me to pivot from political science to health care management, propelling me on a path through advanced degrees and into roles where I could affect change directly.鈥�
He added to his toolbox by gaining community health worker certification to enhance his current role with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Flood鈥檚 efforts have been geared toward bridging communication, education and access gaps for marginalized and rural populations.
His future goals are to expand the presence of CHWs within the VA system, and to ultimately seek a role as a college professor or health care leader to 鈥渂e the change鈥� he wants to see and keep his promise to his father.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 save everyone, but I can help someone,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s our instructor, Frances Villafane, often says, 鈥業t鈥檚 about planting a seed, for a flower that you may never see blossom, knowing you did your best 鈥� some flowers grow faster than others, and that鈥檚 ok, because you laid the foundation鈥�.鈥�
Dianne Connery: development director, Pottsboro, TX, library
Before moving into her current position, Dianne Connery spent 13 years as the Pottsboro library director. Located in Grayson County, Pottsboro is a rural community 90 miles north of Dallas. During the pandemic, the library teamed up with HSC to provide Wi-Fi for students to continue their studies online, operated a community garden, and provided a 鈥渓ibrary鈥� of household items that residents in need could check out. In 2021, the library partnered with HSC鈥檚 to establish a dedicated telemedicine room where community members could make appointments and visit virtually with providers.
The library鈥檚 focus on health led to an American Heart Association partnership to provide blood pressure kits for checkout, and the library also became a meal site for youth.
Connery said she was drawn to the HSC鈥檚 CHW program for several reasons.
鈥淚 was initially inspired by a pilot project in Central Texas 鈥� 鈥� that uses peer support specialists in libraries to address behavioral health issues. More and more, libraries are embedding social workers in their environment. When I learned about CHWs, it seemed like a perfect fit, and I knew HSC was a great organization to work with,鈥� she said.
Living in a rural community was a new experience, Connery said, when she moved to Pottsboro in 2010.
鈥淚 learned that many of the organizations and services available in more populated areas just don鈥檛 exist in smaller communities. The library was on the verge of closing due to lack of funding, and I saw an opportunity to create an anchor institution to meet the needs of the unserved/underserved in Grayson County. My goal is to establish sustainable funding streams for libraries to do meaningful work,鈥� she explained.
Connery 鈥� who received both CHW and CHW Instructor certification through HSC鈥檚 program 鈥� said that one of her most important takeaways from the training was that people often don鈥檛 know about the help available in their communities.
One of the big projects to come from her experience has been Pottsboro鈥檚 AI Librarian Chatbot, which helps connect people to needed resources if a CHW isn鈥檛 available.
鈥淲e鈥檝e created a knowledge base of regional referrals and work closely with our area non-profits,鈥� Connery said. 鈥淟ibraries are a natural fit to host CHWs.鈥�
Janak Patel: senior program development manager, community alliances, for the American Heart Association
Janak Patel works with community health centers and community-based organizations like Mission YMCA and Black Nurses Rock, to help implement and evaluate community-to-clinical linkages for hypertension care, especially within underserved and under-resourced communities. American Heart Association is piloting programs in Detroit, Houston, San Francisco/Oakland, San Juan and Washington DC.
Patel is also part of the American Heart Association , building a free hypertension course for CHWs. His organization has consulted Dr. Wagner on several aspects related to CHW education.
鈥淥ur team and I truly believe it is critical to support community health workers because this profession can build trust and promote positive health outcomes, especially in areas that are underserved,鈥� he said.
Patel鈥檚 family immigrated to the U.S. from India. He is a second-generation Indian American, graduating with a public health degree from Baylor University Health in 2021 and working for the American Heart Association since then. He鈥檚 recently been accepted to medical school and plans to use his public health background to address the root causes of health disease outcomes. His mother, a nutritionist who also completed her CHW training at HSC, shared the benefits of the training and encouraged him to take it as well.
Patel said he most enjoyed getting to know and learning from his instructor and fellow classmates.
鈥淓veryone comes from a different background, but we all share the same passion to advocate and support the health and well-being of our local communities. It was amazing to have a chance to learn from people all across Texas. Some of my classmates were from Amarillo, El Paso and McAllen. I鈥檝e learned so much more than I ever imagined because of this community,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t was honestly one of my best decisions to enroll in this HSC CHW course,鈥� Patel added. 鈥淭his is meant for everyone, no matter the background or experience.鈥�
From HSC Newsroom - Our People by Sally Crocker
https://www.unthsc.edu/newsroom/story/recognizing-the-important-role-of-community-health-workers/