Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Jon Husted officially recognized June 6, 2024 Community Health Worker (CHW) Day in the State of Ohio. The Central Ohio Pathways HUB (the HUB) celebrated the occasion with a celebratory day for the over forty CHWs that are a part of the HUB that included motivational and educational programming, as well as programming meant to give CHWs a day to rest and focus on their own self-care.

The HUB was acquired by Health Impact Ohio, a CMA affiliate, in 2019, and has served 6,700 clients since HIO began managing it. In the five years of operation, HUB CHWs have initiated nearly 53,000 connections to care and services for Central Ohio’s most vulnerable and marginalized friends and neighbors. Of the 53,000 services initiated, almost 40,000 have been completed, which means that individuals have been successfully connected to vital care and resources to put them on a path to better health and wellbeing. Currently, CHWs in the HUB are serving 852 people in the service region of Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Ross, Pickaway, Madison, Union and Marion counties.

Health Impact Ohio Hosts 2024 CHW Day Celebration

By: Brittany Daniels, Director of Operations & Communications, Health Impact Ohio

This month, Health Impact Ohio celebrated Community Health Worker (CHW) Day with our Central Ohio CHWs of Community Health Workers through a day of creativity and relaxation. Community Health Worker Day is a time to honor and recognize the invaluable contributions of CHWs in promoting health and well-being in our Ohio communities. From providing support to underserved populations to bridging the gap between communities and healthcare services, CHWs play a crucial role in advancing public health. This special day serves as a reminder of the essential role that CHWs play in creating healthier and more equitable communities.

The theme for this year's celebration across the state of Ohio was "We Rise by Lifting Others." We wanted to recognize all of the dedication, hard work, and compassion CHWs provide in helping to improve the lives of individuals and families while also acknowledging the toll it can take on CHWs in their daily lives. Self-care is crucial for CHWs to maintain their overall well-being, be equipped to handle the challenges they work through daily, reduce stress, and improve mental and physical health.

Call for Presenters Now Open: Community Health Worker Statewide Conference

Join Health Impact Ohio, The Ohio State University, Ohio University, and the Ohio Community Health Worker Association for the annual Community Health Worker Statewide Conference on October 24th and 25th, 2024, at the Quest Conference Center in Columbus Ohio!

The Statewide CHW Conference Planning Committee is now accepting workshop presenter applications for the 2024 Conference "Uniting Voices, Empowering Ohioans: CHWs Coming Together for Our Communities." This 2-day event will draw over 400 Community Health Workers and allies from around Ohio and we are seeking dynamic, passionate, and knowledgeable presenters to contribute to the agenda. Applications are due by July 1st.

OMH Releases New Request for Information on Community Health Workers

The HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) has recently released an important opportunity to provide comments to the HHS Office of Minority Health. The Request for Information (RFI) will help inform the development of an educational campaign focused on community health workers (CHWs) and increasing cultural competency on public health vaccines and prevention. Please respond to and/or share this new opportunity to help OMH better understand the needs of CHWs and the diverse populations they serve.