Across the country, at all levels (statewide, locally and
nationally), CHWs are organizing professional associations or networks. CHW
associations advocate for CHWs and the communities they serve. They give CHWs a
means of gaining additional skills, accessing support and recognition, and sharing resources and strategies with
peers. This regular newsletter feature highlights the ongoing organizing
efforts of CHWs across the country. We urge CHWs to contact their local
networks and get involved! If there is no network in your area, think about
starting one. Contact the network nearest you for information and strategies
about organizing. We recognize the enormous energy and commitment of CHWs as
they organize. We also know that this is only a partial list of CHW
associations. If you know of others, please let us know! Contact Newsletter Editor Gail Hirsch at: gail.hirsch@state.ma.us or (617)
624-6016.
Welcome to the Community Health Worker Association of Rhode Island (CHWARI)!
CHWARI hired its first full time employee,
effective in August 2010, to coordinate the Association. Presently, the
Steering Committee is exploring standardized training and education paths for
all Rhode Island CHWs. Additionally, CHWARI is helping to coordinate CHW
networking, events, and expanding its website to provide resources for CHWs.
Please see contact information below.
National CHW Associations
American Association of Community Health Workers: Durrell
Fox dfoxnehec@aol.com and Pam Chapman pam.chapman@spectrum-health.org,
Co-chairs.
American Public Health Association CHW Section: Lisa
Renee Holderby, Chair, (617) 275-2813, lrholderby@communitycatalyst.org;
http://www.apha.org/membergroups/sections/aphasections/chw/
National Hispanic
CHW Association:
Zeida Estrada, Chair, zestrada@gatewaytocare.org, (281) 222-9643
National Association Community Health Representatives: Cindy
Norris, President, PO Box 1064, Sells, AZ (502) 471-3487 norrisc@todhs.com;
http://www.nachr.net/
State/Regional
CHW Organizations
ARIZONA
Arizona Community Health Outreach Workers Network (AzCHOW), Of, By, and For
Community Health Outreach Workers; http://www.publichealth.arizona.edu/azchow/
Flor Redondo, Chair; redondos1271@aol.com
CALIFORNIA
The Community Health Worker/Promotoras Network, Maria Lemus, Executive
Director, Vision Y Compromiso, 2536 Edwards Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530; (510)
232-7869; (510) 231-9954 fax; e-mail: chwpromotoras@aol.com,
or Maria at mholl67174@aol.com
FLORIDA
REACH-Workers – the Community Health Workers of Tampa Bay. Please contact
Michelle Dublin, chairperson of the network, at (727) 588-4018 or Michelle_Dublin@doh.state.fl.us
GEORGIA
Georgia Community Health Advisor Network, Gail McCray, Department
of CH/PM Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, Atlanta,
GA 30310-1495; Ph: (404) 752-1645, gmccray@msm.edu
HAWAII – in
process of forming CHW organization. Leimomi Shearer, CHW, leimomi@huimalamahawaii.com 69-A
Railroad Ave, Hilo, Hawaii 96720
ILLINOIS
Chicago CHW Local Network. Contact Laura Bahena. 1436 W. Randolph St. 4th Floor,Chicago, IL.
60607. Telephone (312) 243-4772 ext.
225. Fax
(312) 243-4792. E-mail chicagochwlocalnetwork@gmail.com
MARYLAND
Community Outreach Workers Association of Maryland, INC. (COWAM),
259 North Lanvale Street, Baltimore, Md. 21217, (410) 664-6949 or (410)
669-7960, Carol Payne, carol.b.payne@hud.gov
MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers (MACHW),
Cindy Marti, Policy Director, cmarti@mphaweb.org, 434
Jamaicaway, Jamaica Plain MA, 02130, (617) 524-6696 x108; www.machw.org.
MICHIGAN
Michigan CHW Coalition, Celeste Sanchez at celisweets6@yahoo.com;
(616) 328-4475.
MINNESOTA
Minnesota CHW Peer Network out of the Minnesota International
Health Volunteers,
122 W. Franklin Ave. #522, Minneapolis, MN 55404, Anita Buel, Vice Chair, AnitaBuel2004@yahoo.com, Grace
Anderson, Chair grace.anderson@co.hennepin.mn.us or
Andrea Leinberger (staff) (612) 230-3254 aleinberger@mihv.org
NEW
JERSEY – no CHW organization but the NJ CHW Institute is supporting the
development of CHW groups. Contact person Yvette Murry, Community Health Worker
Institute, NJ AHEC/ UMDNJ-SOM, murryyv@umdnj.edu;
42 Laurel Road E., STE. 3200 Stratford, NJ 08084; (856) 566-6724.
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Community Health Workers Association (NMCHWA), P.O. Box 81433,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87198, nmchwa@yahoo.com,
www.nmchwa.com (505) 255-1227
NEW YORK
Statewide:
Community Health Worker Network of New York State, http://chwnetwork.org/id49.html
New York City -Community Health Worker Network of NYC; 425 E. 25 Street;
New York, NY 10010; (212) 481-7667 Sergio Matos, Executive Director Sergio@chwnetwork.org or Romy Rodriguez, Chair, Romelia@chwnetwork.org; Website: http://chwnetwork.org/
Rochester -
Rochester Outreach Workers Association (ROWA), Latisha Williams, Chair, (585)
274-8490, Lwilliams@monroecounty.gov
OHIO
Ohio
Community Health Worker Association, Jewel Bell, President,
phone (513) 464-8404, jewel.bell@att.net,
http://www.med.wright.edu/CHC/programs/ochwa.html
OREGON
Oregon Community Health Workers Association, 9000 N. Lombard Street--2nd Floor,
Portland, OR 97203, (503) 988-3366, ext 28686, Teresa Ríos, teresa.c.rios@co.multnomah.or.us,
or Veronica Lopez Ericksen, xiomara.t.lopez@co.multnomah.or.us
RHODE
ISLAND
Community Health Worker Association of Rhode Island
(CHWARI); Beth Lamarre, Rhode Island Parent Information Network, 1210 Pontiac
Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920, Ph: (401) 270-0101, chwassociationri@gmail.com,
www.chwassociationri.org
TEXAS
South Texas Promotora Association, Weslaco, Texas, Merida Escobar, STPA President/CEO, E-mail: stpa08@sbcglobal.net, (956) 383-5393;P.O.
BOX 350, San Juan, Texas 78589.
WASHINGTON STATE
Washington Community Health Worker Network
Lilia Gomez - (360) 786-9722 (ext 230) - lgomez@wacmhc.org
Seth Doyle - (206) 783-3004 (ext 16) - sdoyle@nwrpca.org