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). 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. At their last class session on June 30, 2014, just before their graduation ceremony, students made presentations on a variety of health issues of their own choosing. 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 an 11-minute   video of some of the presentations. 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) Student Tom Burns makes a presentation on homelessness and substance abuse before Jaime Berberena and Martiza Fresneda present on the tobacco industries' targeting of youth as students Aida Trevera and Beverly Theodore listen. (Row two) Gail Rodrigues and David Peters summarize their presentation on tobacco before Aida and Krista Chea present on homeless families and nutrition. (Row three) Velia Alviar and Margie Monteiro listen as Linda Mae Pittsley, Channa Guinard, Jenny Rios and Edward Deconick make their presentations. (Bottom row) Beverly Thodore, Velia Alviar and Ana Loaiza present on teen pregnancy prevention.