Health Impact Ohio (HIO) is excited to announce that the state of Ohio’s biennial budget for fiscal year 2024-2025 included a provision that created and funded the Ohio Center for Community Health Worker Excellence. Spearheaded by Health Impact Ohio, this public-private partnership will include Board of Directors, including CHWs, The Ohio Network of Certified Pathways Community HUBs, The Ohio CHW Association, state departments, and other stakeholder organizations. This funding will enhance and highlight the CHW workforce in our state, which has grown exponentially over the last several years, and appropriated $2.5 million each year of the biennium. 

Health Impact Ohio Hosts CHW Day Celebration

Throughout the month of July, Health Impact Ohio closely watched as the 2024-2025 state budget was passed. We would like to highlight a blog written by our Health Impact Ohio Board of Directors Treasurer, Tara Britton, from The Center for Community Solutions, which provides an initial overview of specific budget priorities that both The Center for Community Solutions and Health Impact Ohio support.

“The 2024-2025 state budget is wrapped. While we’ll spend a lot more time and blog-space on how this state budget will impact health and human services, this initial reflection on the budget provides a quick look at where The Center for Community Solutions’ budget priorities landed.”

Highlight: Think Cultural Health E-Learning Programs

This highlight is shared from the Health Opportunity News released by the Ohio Department of Health:

Think Cultural Health is an OMH initiative that provides health and healthcare professionals with information, continuing education opportunities, and resources to learn about and implement CLAS and the National CLAS Standards.

In honor of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, OMH encourages you to take the Improving Cultural Competency for Behavior. The free online program for behavioral health professionals is designed to enhance knowledge and skill levels as it relates to culturally and linguistically appropriate services.

Behavioral health professionals can earn up to five continuing education hours upon the completion of the self-paced program, which is accredited for counselors, nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. 

Other free accredited e-learning programs include:

• Health Care Administrators and Providers

• Disaster and Emergency Personnel

• Maternal Health Providers

• Nurses

• Oral Health Professionals

• Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants

• Promotores de Salud (Community Health Workers)