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 University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth School of Public Health鈥檚 State Health Services Certified Community Health Worker and CHW Instructor Training Center 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.

鈥湸笙笥霸衡�檚 training center serves as an integral part of the School of Public Health鈥檚 strategic plan 鈥� IMPACT 2030: Commitment to Community 鈥� equipping graduates to bring their communities together to make things better for the whole health and well-being of those who live there,鈥� said Dr. Teresa Wagner, School of Public Health associate professor of health administration and policy, and director of 大象影院鈥檚 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 大象影院 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’s crucial role.鈥�

鈥淭he pivotal moment came when witnessing my father’s 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’t save everyone, but I can help someone,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s our instructor, Frances Villafane, often says, 鈥業t’s about planting a seed, for a flower that you may never see blossom, knowing you did your best – some flowers grow faster than others, and that’s 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 大象影院 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 大象影院鈥檚 to establish a dedicated telemedicine room where community members could make appointments and visit virtually with 大象影院 Health 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 大象影院鈥檚 CHW program for several reasons.

鈥淚 was initially inspired by a pilot project in Central Texas 鈥� – that uses peer support specialists in libraries to address behavioral health聽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 大象影院 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’t 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 大象影院鈥檚 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’t available.

鈥淲e’ve 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.聽 His mother, a nutritionist who also completed her CHW training at 大象影院, 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 大象影院 CHW course,鈥� Patel added. 鈥淭his is meant for everyone, no matter the background or experience.鈥�