IPHA has been a longtime leader in advancing health equity efforts in communities throughout Illinois, especially through the development of career pathways and training for Community Health Workers (CHWs). CHWs are trusted healthcare messengers and navigators who live and work in the communities they serve. CHWs connect community residents with the resources they need to manage their health, address chronic disease issues, and access available services and resources. Not only do CHWs improve health outcomes, programs like IPHA’s are able to facilitate hiring opportunities for trained CHWs, which results in new local economic opportunities and promotes health equity. CHWs are an essential component of Illinois’ coordinated response to increase access to care among residents of economically and medically under-resourced communities. Over the past decade, Illinois has taken steps to build an infrastructure to increase access to care through the support and advancement of CHWs.
1815 – CHW Strategies
Clients for Diabetes Prevention Program participation and enrolling at-risk individuals in the American Lung Association’s Live Well/Breathe Well program. IPHA will build capacity among at least two (2) new l DPP/DSME/Live Well/Breathe Well sites to build capacity among small community-based organizations.
For more information, contact Tracey Smith, Director of Community Health.
Illinois Community Health Worker Training Program
IPHA, in collaboration with a robust network of partners, will continue to expand on the Illinois Community Health Worker HelpGuideThrive program through this federally funded initiative to recruit and equip Community Health Workers for employment in a broad array of health care settings throughout Illinois, with a focus on providing public health services in rural and underserved communities. IPHA will convene five (5) statewide teams to provide expertise and guidance for curriculum development and alignment, targeted recruitment, implementation, data collection, continuous improvement efforts, and workforce development. The grant provides for continuing education opportunities for CHWs and field placements as well as employment-based services for CHWs and those seeking to enter the field.
For more information, contact Tracey Smith, Director of Community Health.