Community Health Workers gain community trust and serve as a link to health and social services.
AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Public Health (APH) is celebrating its first round of Community Health Worker (CHW) graduates. A total of 32 CHWs graduated this month after completing APH’s first-ever training cohort.
“Each of these graduates dedicated an impressive amount of time and effort to earn their certification and title,” said APH Director Adrienne Sturrup. “We’re proud of each of our students and excited for their future serving the community.”
These graduates will play a critical role in connecting with and serving as an advocate for their community. CHWs create a bridge between their community and the government, the healthcare industry and social service systems and are the secret sauce of public health.
“The importance of access to healthcare cannot be stressed enough,” said District 2 Council Member Vanessa Fuentes. “As a long-time advocate for the Community Health Worker program, I'm excited to see how our CHWs will empower our communities and address some of the longstanding health inequities we see in Austin.”
Laura Almeida Kholoud Barakat Angelica Brown Rocio Solis Capetillo Damber Tennison Cooks Tonya Coy Denise Dodd Yaunceé Dorty Uneara Dorty Liliana Garcia Olga Grimaldo Graciela Gonzalez Shutong Hao Billie Jo Hernandez Abigail Lara Andrea Maxwell |
Carolyn Joyce Nesby Beatriz Pantoja-Andrade Blythe Plunkett Juanita Reyes Marisol Reyes Sonia Reyes Joaquin Rodriguez Monica Rodriguez Cassandra Sanchez Maria Solis Maria Guadalupe Solis Demetra Necole Tennison Kathy Trinh Wade Williams Klorice Witherspoon Xuan Ruth Zane |
The CHW certification is provided at no charge through the Texas Department of State Health Services and is affiliated with the UT School of Public Health. APH’s CHW Training Center and Hub launched in May of 2022.
“This group of community servants is just the first of many APH hopes to train and equip to serve the public,” said Laura G. La Fuente, Assistant Director for Health Equity and Community Engagement. “Anyone who is looking to help their neighbor and support their community is encouraged to look into becoming a certified Community Health Worker.”
Interested community members can apply for the upcoming training event. For questions about becoming a Community Health Worker, contact APH-CHWHUB@austintexas.gov.
The next training cohort is set to begin in winter of 2023.