How Becoming Certified Improved My Skills as a Community Health Worker

For over 40 years, we've seen firsthand how Community Health Workers (CHWs) improve health outcomes for the families and individuals we serve. We've long recognized their key role in improving access to care and public health emergency response in vulnerable communities. This is why we are dedicated to supporting CHWs through the certification process with training, field placements, and Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs).

Certification for CHWs is pivotal in establishing a uniform standard of proficiency, enhancing trust, enabling mobility, and fostering continuous professional development. These aspects collectively contribute to the overall effectiveness and impact of CHWs in promoting health equity and addressing the diverse needs of communities.

In this article, Ella Lyman, a CHW from the Suwannee River Area Health Education Center,? discusses how she will leverage the skills she's acquired in our training to improve health outcomes and decrease the number of health disparities affecting North Central Florida's rural communities.

Why are you a Community Health Worker?

I am passionate about helping others! Everyone deserves healthcare and a good quality of life. As a CHW, I can advocate for a community's needs and health concerns. I help plan and implement wellness strategies and conduct educational training experiences. With these educational components, communities will be able to become self-sufficient and build on their understanding of the importance of health and wellness. I truly enjoy participating in that process and watching community members make positive changes for themselves.

As a CHW, how do you hope to impact your community?

My main goal is to improve health outcomes, decrease health disparities, and prevent health and social injustices. I also want to increase cultural awareness, improve cultural competence, and provide a positive perspective on health and wellness. I aim to bridge the gap between providers, social services, and those needing those services most.

?What does certification mean to you?

This certification will give me the confidence and knowledge to utilize my skills and work with partners who serve my communities.

How has the MHP Salud FL CHW Training Program impacted you as a CHW in your community?

The structure of the training was easy to follow, and the various activities encouraged me and my peers to stay engaged. After each lesson, I felt more prepared for the implementation process at my field placement site. Some things that stuck with me were the stress on the importance of a CHW’s role and how we were encouraged to continue refining our knowledge and skills.

I truly enjoyed being a part of this training program. Learning from individuals with lived experience in the field was engaging and inspiring.

MHP Salud's Florida CHW Training Program

Learn more about how to prepare your workforce to acquire the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary to address the public health needs of underserved communities.

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