Greetings from Massachusetts!

My term as chair ends at the close of the 2011 APHA Annual Meeting. It has been an honor and my pleasure to serve the CHW field in this capacity! As I reflect on the past three years, I would like to share some of my observations. As I began my term as chair, there were several goals I had for the CHW Section (then SPIG). First, I hoped to improve and expand communications from the Section leadership to the membership. With the assistance of all of the leadership and in particular the newsletter and communications team, we have continued to develop and distribute three newsletters each year.  Most recently we have launched a Facebook page to enhance the capacity for Section communications. Section members have received at least three other communications each year, including nomination information for both Section and association leadership positions, Section updates and  invitations to join various Section workgroups and committees.

Additionally, I had hoped the Section leadership would become more diverse to represent the diversity of our membership. The Section leadership has worked very hard to enhance its diversity through recruitment of new members and opportunities for involvement in Section activities. We have been committed to ensuring that the Section leadership reflects our diverse membership. While we still have work to do, I’m proud to say that we have enhanced representation from the broader CHW community including CHRs, promotoras, researchers, state government, members from all aspects of CHW programming and other stakeholders.

In 2009 the CHW Section had a banner year! We not only achieved section status, we successfully drafted and submitted a new APHA CHW policy statement. Both were hopes for the Section early on, and both can be equally difficult to achieve. Those of you who worked on the policy statement and section status understand what challenging processes they both can be. The entire Section should be proud that we were able to be successful at both endeavors! 

We have become more engaged in Association-wide activities. During the past three years we have had Section members on the Governing Council, Action Board, Education Board, Joint Policy Committee, Policy Work Group and Executive Board. All are important as we continue to grow into and maintain our newly achieved section status. We need to continue to have representation in the above mentioned activities and expand to include additional Association activities, committees and boards.

As chair, I have had the pleasure of representing the Section at various conferences and meetings across the country. I’ve met wonderful and dedicated CHWs, promotores(as), CHRs and supporters all working hard to improve health in our communities and promote the field. This has been an amazing experience. I now have new relationships across the country and have enhanced prior relationships. I encourage all of you to consider becoming engaged in the Section leadership in the future.

While we have had many accomplishments over the past several years, we have many more ahead of us. Our incoming chair, Lourdes Fernandez, will bring new leadership, ideas and energy. Her leadership will propel the Section even further in our journey. As I begin my term as immediate past chair, I look forward to watching the new chair blossom into the strongest leader she can become.  Please offer your support and assistance to ensure Lourdes has a fruitful and successful tenure as Section chair. 

Again, I would like to thank the entire Section and in particular the Section Council for all of your work and support to bring the Section to a new level of success and participation in APHA.

Sincerely,

Lisa Renee Holderby-Fox