The

Community Health Worker Initiative of Boston

Building better jobs and healthier communities

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
178 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111
  617-348-6590
  
 

What's New

June 12 - Employer Forum on Developing and Strengthening Career Pathways.

Get the handouts from the forum!!

I. Presentation

II. Model - Template

III. Model - Completed

IV. Background on CHWs

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Community health workers are an essential part of the
public health system …they have the opportunity to dramatically improve access to health care for underserved populations.”


- Massachusetts Department
of Public Health

  

Our Mission

To enable community health workers access to education and skills training leading to

sustainable jobs, living wages and career pathways, while promoting policies that ensure

appropriate employer funding to achieve these goals.

What IS a Community Health Worker?
Community Health Workers (CHWs) often go by a variety of names: “outreach worker,” “case manager” or “program coordinator.” The work of these public health professionals means that

children and families throughout Boston’s neighborhoods   are provided with access to better

health care and information. Through their unique understanding of the experiences, language

and culture of the communities they serve, community health workers promote full and equal

access to necessary health and social services.

What does the CHW Initiative offer to community health workers, to employers and to the community?

By offering services to community health workers and their employers, the CHW Initiative

builds the capacity of the community health workforce, improves access to health care in Boston neighborhoods, and increases recognition of the important contributions of community health workers.

  Community Health Workers

  • Assistance with developing a career plan
  • Referrals to additional CHW training programs, including a new CHW
  • Certificate Training Program
  • Referrals to English classes or GED programs
  • Help preparing for and enrolling in college
  • Assistance in applying for financial aid
  • Help supplementing income with support services, including fuel assistance transportation, child care and more

   CHW Employers

  • Free access to career counseling for CHW employees
  • Expanded education and training opportunities for CHW employees, including credit for prior learning
  • Assistance establishing practical CHW career pathways
  • An annual CHW Employer Best Practices Forum
  • Opportunities to help expand funding for CHW positions
  • Benefits including better trained workforce and higher retention

   The Community

  • A vehicle to improve access to health care
  • Opportunities to help shape CHW policies in Massachusetts
  • Potential to improve CHW education and training programs in Boston
  • Participation in a nationally recognized
  • CHW workforce development model
  • Chance to build self-sufficiency of the CHW labor force

 

The Community Health Worker Initiative provides services to CHWs and their employers to create career pathways and build a skilled workforce. For more  information, please call 617-348-6590 or email us at: chwinfo@bostonabcd.org

(c) 2008 Community Health Worker Initiative

The Community Health Worker Initiative is a project of Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. through the generous support of SkillWorks.