Building a strong Community Health Worker pipeline for Kent and Sussex Counties.
With a mission to promote racial equity and social justice for Sussex and Kent County residents, the Sussex County Health Coalition has developed, and executed, systems that are growing the Community Health Worker (CHW) labor force in Delaware. The goal of adding 150 new CHWs to the public health workforce and extending the skills of an additional 50 current CHWs over three years is well on its way to success.
The collaboration with the Department of Public Health has yielded two completed cohorts of trainees, with another underway. With the help of Tapp Network, social media and website branding has begun, generating wait lists for current and future trainings. A partnership has been developed with the Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA), allowing for the upskilling of current CHWs in a much-needed health literacy curriculum.
Not only is growth being seen in the training programs, but in May 2023, a State of Delaware Community Health Worker apprenticeship was designed and approved by the Department of Labor. This first ever CHW apprenticeship program will bring employers and trainees together to enhance supportive services to those in marginalized communities. The first class is complete and the July class is under way.
There is a waitlist for fall classes, and new additional sessions are being explored. This LEARN, EARN, and SERVE model resonates with participants and helps with removing barriers to training.
If you would like to join our network of employers, or know someone that would benefit from these trainings, pleasecontact us at info@chwtr.com.
