Lessons learned about chw/promotora leadership development from the south Texas border region

This presentation will share lessons learned regarding CHW leadership from numerous research projects utilizing CHWs for the past twelve years in the South Texas-Mexico border region. The presenter will facilitate a dialogue about CHW leadership issues based on previous experiences and the current utilization of CHWs locally and globally. Specifically, the presenter will provide brief project overviews that engaged CHWs and then highlight key findings for CHW leadership development identified by CHWs and project staff. Principal findings included: 1) recruit CHWs indigenous to the target community who share the same language and cultural values; 2) interweave CHWs at all levels of leadership—from the initial conception of a project to the planning, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of results; 3) create an environment that continually involves CHWs in project feedback and refinement—leading to CHW empowerment; 4) allow CHWs to identify areas of needed training and growth; 5) generate professional development opportunities identified by the CHWs; 6) develop peer-to-peer mentoring programs—partnership veteran CHWs with CHWs new to the field; 7) involve CHWs in the training of other CHWs—incorporating them in both the training development and delivery; 8) include CHWs in the creation and implementation of sustainability activities; 9) allow CHWs to give back to their communities in their own unique and creative ways—supporting CHW-lead service projects and events; and 10) seek out local, state, and national opportunities for CHWs to demonstrate their leadership abilities. The intent of this presentation is to incorporate a CHW as a co-presenter.