Bristol Community College began its first class on April 29, 2014 in 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. 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. Other grant opportunities are currently being explored in addition to this one funded by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. UIA has already been involved in an initial project to provide Basic Level Training for a small group and plans to reach out through local parishes to identify others with an interest. Click here for photos of an earlier meeting. Click here for a five-minute   video of the start of the class. For more information about UIA, contact Kathy Murphy at 508-673-4670.
 

(Top row, center, left and right) Participants in the training program are welcomed to the classroom at the HealthFirst Family Care Center by co-faculty facilitators Scott Nolan and Deborah Berg. (Row two) Bristol Community College Corporate Associate and Project Manager Dale Hayden and Center for Workforce and Community Education Dean Carmen Aguilar welcome the students to their first class. (Row three) Ana Loaiza, Channa Guinard and Linda Mae Pittsley chat before the session begins. (Row four)  Jack Shipley, Gloria Cardosa-Santos, Laura Diogo Carreau, David Peters, Karen Galloway, Cassia Silva, and Aida Trocerco introduce themselves one by one. (Bottom Row) BCC Director for Corporate Services Robert Vitello passes out copies of the curriculum to Ashburdee Rios, Maritza Fresneda, Velia Alviar, Beverly Theodore, Krista Chea, Ana Loaiza and Channa Guinard.