Seven CHA Residents Become Community Health Workers

Seven CHA residents recently became Certified Community Health Workers (CHW) after completing a rigorous training program that included 100 hours of instruction and an 80-hour practicum.

The Council on Black Health partnered with the Chicago Housing Authority to identify and recruit residents for the CHW program, which is designed to improve the health and wellness of underserved communities across the U.S. As trusted frontline workers who live and work in the areas they serve, CHWs play a critical role in informing, advocating for, and connecting community members to healthcare resources.

Lorne Green, CHA’s Director of Workforce Opportunities, said: “CHA’s Workforce Opportunity Resource Center (WORC) provides CHA residents with the tools and resources they need to explore new career opportunities and achieve their dreams. Through this partnership with the Council on Black Health, these seven new Community Health Workers can create much-needed change in reducing health disparities facing Black communities while at the same time advancing their own personal career goals.” 

Graduate Yashminda White praised the program, saying, “This certification means that I am in a better position to be a resource and of assistance to my community and the surrounding communities. We, as Black people and People of Color, are the most vulnerable to disparities, so this program helps us identify those things so we have a better understanding of what to tackle.”