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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Elena Schwolsky, RN, MPH, Community Health Worker Project at Hunter College, Hunter College, 425 E. 25th St., Box 591, New York, NY 10010 and Teresa Rios, Oregon Community Health Workers Association, Multnomah County Health Department, Portland, OR 97203, 503-988-3366x28686, eschwols@ms1.hunter.cuny.edu.
Telling our Stories, Sharing our Strength A “Town Meeting” of Community Health Workers
Learning objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to (1) identify the vital and unique role played by Community Health Workers (CHWs) in promoting public health, (2) recognize the value of “oral history” in validating the work of CHWs and (3) identify common strengths and challenges of CHW work. Community health workers play an indispensable role in promoting public health. As indigenous members of the communities they serve, CHWs serve as a bridge between our nation’s most vulnerable and burdened communities and the health and social service system. The powerful stories they gather in the course of their work can help us understand and evaluate the impact of health promotion programs on individuals, families and communities. This dynamic session will provide an opportunity for CHWs attending APHA, many for the first time, to share the stories of their work, both with each other and with other APHA members who are interested in the work of CHWs. The session will be presented in the interactive form of a “town meeting” , facilitated by a moderator. CHW participants representing a range of programs from across the U.S. will be invited to share a story that illuminates their work, including the strengths and experience they bring to it, the challenges they face and their achievements. The session will be enriched by participation of CHWs from local Philadelphia area programs.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: , Community Health Advisor
Related Web page: www.chwnetwork.org
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.