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, getting 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.
National CHW Associations
American Association of Community Health Workers
Durrell Fox, Co-Chair, dfoxnehec@aol.com
American Public Health Association CHW Section
http://www.apha.org/membergroups/sections/aphasections/chw
Lisa Renee Holderby, Chair, holderbylr@aol.com
National Association of Community Health Representatives
http://www.nachr.net
Cindy Norris, President, (502) 808-6245, cynthia.norris@nachr.net
National Hispanic CHW Association
Zeida Estrada, Chair, (281) 222-9643,
zeidalzestrada@yahoo.com
State/Regional CHW Organizations
ARIZONA
Arizona Community Health Outreach Workers Network
http://azchow.org, (520)705-8861, azchow.network@gmail.com
CALIFORNIA
Community Health Worker/Promotoras Network http://www.visionycompromiso.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=6&Itemid=4
Maria Lemus, Executive Director, (510) 232-7869, chwpromotoras@aol.com or mholl67174@aol.com
FLORIDA
REACH-Workers—The Community Health Workers of Tampa Bay
Michelle Dublin, Chair, (727) 588-4018,Michelle_Dublin@doh.state.fl.us
GEORGIA
Georgia Community Health Advisor Network
Gail McCray, (404) 752-1645, gmccray@msm.edu
ILLINOIS
Chicago CHW Local Network
Laura Bahena, (312) 878-7015, healthconnectone.org, http://hco.depaulccts.org/
MARYLAND
Community Outreach Workers Association of Maryland, Inc.
Carol Payne (410) 664-6949, carol.b.payne@hud.gov
MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers
www.machw.org
Cindy Martin, Policy Director, (617) 524-6696 ext. 108, cmartin@mphaweb.org
MICHIGAN
Michigan CHW Coalition
Gracie Cadena, graciela.cadena@spectrum-health.org
MINNESOTA
Minnesota CHW Peer Network, http://www.wellshareinternational.org/chwpeernetwork.us
Anita Buel, Chair, (612) 2933502, anita.dchw@gmail.com
Sophia London, Co-Chair, (612) 873-8215, danderson@familytreeclinic.org
NEW JERSEY
The New Jersey CHW Institute supports the development of CHW groups
Carol Wolff, (856) 963-2432 ext. 202; wolff_c@Camden-AHEC.org
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Community Health Workers Association http://www.nmchwa.com/
Bette Jo Ciesielski, (505) 255-1227, nmchwa@yahoo.com
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
http://chwnetwork.org
Sergio Matos, Executive Director, (212) 481-7667, sergio@chwnetwork.org
Romy Rodriguez, Chair, romelia@chwnetwork.org
Community Health Workers Association of Rochester:
http://www.chwrochesterny.org.
Glenda Blanco, Chair, (585) 922-3507, glenda.blanco@rochestergeneral.org
OHIO
Ohio Community Health Worker Association
http://www.med.wright.edu/CHC/programs/ochwa.html
Jewel Bell, President, (513)464-8404, jewel.bell@att.net
OREGON
Oregon Community Health Workers Association
Teresa Ríos, (503) 988-6250 ext. 28686, teresa.c.rios@co.multnomah.or.us
Veronica Lopez Ericksen, (503) 988-5055 ext. 28061, xiomara.t.lopez@co.multnomah.or.us
RHODE ISLAND
Community Health Worker Association of Rhode Island:
http:// www.chwassociationri.org
Beth Lamarre, Coordinator, (401) 270-0101, ext 149; chwassociationri@gmail.com
TEXAS
South Texas Promotora Association
Merida Escobar, President/CEO, (956) 383-5393, stpa08@sbcglobal.net
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