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Vermont Community Health Worker Steering Committee's
April 2024 Newsletter
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IN THIS ISSUE
Acknowledgments
Vermont CHW Spotlight
Training Spotlight
Vermont Opportunities
National Opportunities
CHW Job Opportunities
New Resource Spotlight
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National Minority Health Month | |
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April is National Minority Health Month, intended to raise awareness about the health disparities that persist among racial and ethnic minority and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. The goal is to encourage everyone to take action to end these inequities. This year's theme is Be the Source for Better Health Outcomes.
Minority and underserved communities often face greater health care challenges. These include limited access to care, higher rates of chronic conditions, and worse health outcomes, as well as stigma and discrimination in health care settings. While the word 'Minority" may not resonate with everyone, National Minority Health Month reminds us of this need and encourages us to promote health equity for everyone.
The origin of National Minority Health Month was laid by educator, author, and civil rights leader Booker T. Washington, who established National Negro Health Week in 1915. NNHW was recognized until 1951 and formed the basis for many of the health-focused observances celebrated today.
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April 22- Earth Day
April 22nd is Earth Day and a time to honor our planet! This month, come together and take action for a healthier planet and a brighter future. Our environment affects our health. The Vermont Social Vulnerability Index is a planning tool to evaluate the relative social vulnerability across the state. Social vulnerability refers to the resilience of communities when responding to or recovering from threats to public health.
View the Earth Day Action Toolkit for ways to get involved and check out the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Earth Day Tips all week long!
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Each month we highlight a Community Health Worker (or similar title), Community Health Worker program, or partner from across Vermont to highlight the great work being done in communities while showcasing the uniqueness and diversity of the workforce.
This month, we are highlighting
Deborah Locke-Rousseau,
from Community Connections of Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital,
and a member of the Alliance Leadership Team.
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Photo left to right shows Crystal, Erica, Deborah Locke-Rousseau, CoCo the snowperson, and Samantha - the Community Connections Team. | |
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Deborah Locke-Rousseau is the CHT Lead and CHW Supervisor for Community Connections of NVRH and an Alliance Leadership Team Member. Community Connections covers the St. Johnsbury Health Service Area, including Caledonia and South Essex, but we also cover walk-ins so we will help anyone that calls in or walks through our doors. We have a great Team here at CoCo!
What do you do in your role? How long have you been a CHW?
I supervise the CHWs at Community Connections of NVRH and take on clients that are a conflict or complex to help the CHWs. I have been in this position for a little over 5 years.
What is your favorite part of being a CHW?
Working to empower our fellow community members to access services and benefits.
What is something that most people don't know about you?
I have my own motorcycle, a collector edition replica of a racing sports bike.
Tell us about a success story from your work.
In working with an older Vermonter in our community that had severed relationships with other agencies and workers, I was able to engage and respond to them in a consistent and predictable manner so that this client could trust that they would get a response and information they asked for. Through this trusting relationship, I could also address hard issues with responses that were not to their liking, but real. The client was able to hear the responses and continue working on alternatives or understand and trust when there were no resources for their ask. In the past this client had responded with anger and concerning behaviors when the answer was not the answer they were looking for. We now have a working relationship so that we can work through issues as needed together.
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Community Health Worker Health-Related
Online Courses
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Reminder, free access to these courses for CHWs living or working in Vermont expires on June 30, 2024. Check out the flier to the right for information on all of the available course topics, including two new additions! | |
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Input Requested: Vermont Community Health Worker Survey from Bi-State Primary Care Association
Bi-State Primary Care Association is conducting a 2024 Community Health Worker (CHW) survey. They are collecting information on screening and referral practices, as well as training needs, so they can better customize training and technical support. Eligible participants are Community Health Workers, Care Coordinators, Patient Navigators, or others in similar roles who identify as CHWs, regardless of their official title. Survey participants must live or work in Vermont.
This survey will be open until May 31st, 2024, or until 100 responses are submitted (whichever comes first). The first 100 eligible participants will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. The survey should take about 15-20 minutes to complete.
If you have any questions or have trouble accessing the link, please reach out to Kristen at Kbigelow@bistatepca.org.
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Crop Cash Benefits at Farmers Markets will restart in May
With summer approaching quickly, the summer farmers market season will be starting soon. Beginning in May, SNAP customers will be able to multiply their benefits at farmers markets again with Crop Cash!
What is Crop Cash?
For every dollar of 3SVT/SNAP you spend at a participating farmers market, you can receive a dollar of Crop Cash (up to $10) to spend on fruits, vegetables, herbs, and culinary seeds and plant starts. Anyone who receives 3SquaresVT/SNAP benefits, as well as folks who still have P-EBT benefits, is automatically eligible to get Crop Cash at a farmers market—there is no additional application for this program.
If you would like to request outreach materials about Crop Cash to share with your clients or community members, please fill out this form.
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Clemmons Family Farm: Beneath Our Skin
Clemmons Family Farm invites you to visit the COVID-19 vaccination storytelling and art exhibit. You can view the exhibit online or at one of three locations throughout the state.
Through the curation of a selection of personal stories, the exhibit shares the spectrum of emotions experienced by Black Vermonters during the height of the global pandemic.
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Exhibit dates and times:
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Clemmons Family Farm Authentica Gallery, 2190 Greenbush Road, Charlotte, Sundays, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., May 19 to June 16, 2024.
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South Burlington Public Library, 180 Market Street, South Burlington, April 10 to May 10, 2024
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The Root Social Justice Center, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, April 12 to May 15, 2024.
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2024 Hunger Action Conference
May 3, 2024
8:00am-3:30pm (tentative)
Killington Grand Resort Hotel and Conference Center
This year’s conference theme is “Getting to the Root of Hunger, Together.” At its root, hunger is a result of many systems and policies that perpetuate poverty. Food security in Vermont is possible and we all have something to contribute. This event will hold space for sharing inspiration and actionable learnings to address hunger today, and to continue building shared vision and understanding to end hunger for good.
The annual Hunger Action Conference is designed to bring together community partners, local non-profits, state representatives, and other advocates to creatively address the issues of hunger in our state.
Registration fees vary. Visit the conference website for more information.
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Funds Available: AAFA Seeks Innovative Collaboration in Asthma Care and SDOH needs
As part of the Health Equity Advancement and Leadership (HEAL) program, a project dedicated to addressing inequities in asthma, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is looking to collaborate with local community-based programs and providers employing community health workers (CHWs) and service providers working on food security, healthy housing or other SDOH areas of care. Limited funds may be available to help expand, improve or launch a pilot program focused on asthma management within a community experiencing barriers to care. The ideal partner(s) would use this pilot project as a bridge to longer-term strategies for sustainable funding of CHW home-visiting asthma programs in your state or community.
For more information, check out to announcement: Seeking Innovative Collaboration in Asthma Care & SDOH needs- Pilot funds available or contact Rhonda Williams.
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Announcements from the National Association of Community Health Workers
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Celebrating NACHW's Five Year Anniversary and Envisioning the Future
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
3:00 PM EST
NACHW invites you to join us as we celebrate our 5-year anniversary! Five years ago, our founders came together at the 2019 Unity Conference to create the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW). Learn about the history of NACHW, some of our major accomplishments in the last 5 years, and about our strategic plan moving forward.
Live-Spanish translation available.
Register online or visit nachw.org for more information.
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NACHW’s 2024 Virtual Annual Meeting and Unity Conference
Wednesday, August 24 and Thursday, August 22, 2024
NACHW is excited to announce that we will be holding this year’s Annual Meeting and Unity Conference virtually on Zoom! Our Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 21st, and our 1-day virtual Unity Conference on Thursday, August 22nd.
Visit the Unity Website to learn more and find registration prices.
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Community Health Worker (North Star Health, Springfield, VT): North Star Health is seeking a Community Health Worker to be part of our Community Health Team and play a critical role in helping individuals access the care they need through the provision of screening, brief interventions and connections to services to address a range of needs.
Family Service Worker (Southeastern Vermont Community Action, White River Junction): SEVCA is currently seeking a community-minded individual to join our Family Services team in our White River Junction office. This individual will work directly with low-income clients to assess clients' needs and help resolve crisis situations by providing application assistance, coordinating community services, providing information, referrals and advocacy.
Family Service Worker (Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA), North Troy): The Family Service Worker is responsible for providing hands on support to integrate parent and family engagement strategies into all systems and program services to support family well-being and promote children’s learning and development.
Behavioral Health Community Health Worker (Northern Counties Health Care, St Johnsbury): The Behavioral Health-CHW provides care coordination, community resource referrals, behavioral health brief intervention as well as mental health and substance misuse screening and assessment, including medication assisted treatment coordination.
Community Health Worker (Northern Counties Health Care, Hardwick): The Community Health Worker will assist in the coordination of and navigation of services to patients and their families with medical, dental, social, and mental health needs. This position requires the CRC to become a Certified Vermont Health Connect Assister; includes interacting with patients in a Primary Care setting and in the community.
Clinic Family Strengthening Worker- Spanish (The Janet S. Munt Family Room, Burlington): We are currently seeking a dedicated, part-time Family Strengthening Worker (FSW) to actively participate in our community-focused Family Room programs. The FSW’s primary responsibility is to contribute to the Building Strong Families Clinic program, which aims to create a comfortable and secure environment for parents and children from immigrant families to engage with healthcare providers. Proficiency in effective Spanish communication is a key requirement for this role.
Housing Case Manager (Southeastern Vermont Community Action, Brattleboro): SEVCA is currently seeking a Housing Case Manager. This individual will work directly with low-income clients experiencing difficulty in sustaining their housing.
Community Health Worker (Community Health Centers of Burlington, Chittenden County): The Community Health Worker (CHW) will be embedded into Community Health Center (CHC) patient care teams to provide screening, follow-up and navigation to services for mental health and substance use disorders, and social determinants of health (SDOH). The CHW will facilitate access to services with a goal of improving patient health and well-being. The CHW will employ population health metrics to identify patients in need of services.
Family Supportive Housing Coordinator (Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA), Newport): The Family Supportive Housing Coordinator will work intensively with individuals and families in Caledonia and Orleans Counties who are facing the risk of homelessness or are currently homeless by providing housing case management and coordination of services.
Housing First Forensic Peer Specialist (Pathways Vermont): Position brings their unique lived experience of having been incarcerated, under the supervision of the Dept. of Corrections and/or criminal justice involvement to the team, supporting individuals who are exiting incarceration and under supervision of the Department of Corrections to transition to the community and thrive.
Howard Center Positions (Chittenden County): Community Outreach Specialists, Community Support Worker (various positions), Peer Specialist, etc.
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Calling the Hospital if you need an Interpreter: Videos in 9 languages
UVM Health Network has just released a series of videos in partnership with Vermont Language Justice Project about calling doctors and departments at hospitals in the UVM Health Network using the interpreter lines. This includes UVMMC, University Pediatrics, CVMC, Porter, UVM Home Health and Hospice. UVM recently rolled out direct interpreter lines for many languages, so that calls will be answered by an interpreter speaking the caller's language.
There is a video in English, which presents the system and the direct interpreter numbers for the languages our communities are most in need of, and then individual videos for 8 other languages, focusing on that language's direct line. There are videos available in English, Dari, French, Nepali, Pashto, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, and Arabic.
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Vermont Community Health Workers | |
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Thank you for your continued work and support,
Newsletter submissions? Want to learn more? Email andrea.nicoletta@vermont.gov
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The Vermont Community Health Worker Steering Committee includes partners and community health workers from the Department of Health, Blueprint for Health, SASH (Support and Services at Home), Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, UVM Extension and Health Network, Community College of Vermont (CCV), Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center (SVTAHEC) and others
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