Bristol Community College offered an eight-week series that will offer skill training to people who wish to work as a Community Health Worker (CHW). Following presentations on a variety of health issues, the students received their certificates of completion at a graduation ceremony held on June 30, 2014 at the Davol Street Campus. CHWs are frontline public health workers who understand the community and assist people in navigating their local healthcare system to improve their health and well-being. CHWs work under a variety of job titles that include: family advocate, enrollment worker, health educator, outreach worker, family counselor, patient navigator, and/or health promoter. The training program originated with a group organized by Kathy Murphy of United Interfaith Action (UIA) to recruit, train, place and support CHWs throughout the Fall River and New Bedford Area. Click here for a 29-minute video of some of the presentations. Click here for a video of the graduation ceremony. Click here for photos of the first class session. For information about the BCC Program, contact Dale Hayden at 774-357-2682. For more information about UIA, contact Kathy Murphy at 508-673-4670.
 

(Top row, left and center) Students gather for their graduation ceremony as Bristol Community College Corporate Associate and Project Manager Dale Hayden and Center for Workforce and Community Education Dean Carmen Aguilar speak with Acting Vice-President for Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning Paul Vigeant. (Top row, right) Dale Hayden welcomes the students. (Row two) Instructor Deborah Berg congratulates student Linda Mae Pittsley for her near perfect score on the final exam. (Row three) Mr. Vigeant addresses the graduates before Graduate Speaker Beverly Theodore relates a story and Southeast Regional Office of the Department of Public Health Director Ron O'Connor congratulates the graduates. (Bottom row) Before the group poses for a group photo, Jamie Berberena is congratulated by Instructor Scott Nolan and BCC Director for Corporate Services Robert Vitello gives graduate Aida Trevera a hug.