Community Health Workers who received an eight-week skill training training from Bristol Community College  recently completed internships at a variety of agencies during July and August, 2014. 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 two-minute video of the students on the job. 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) BIA Accredited Representative Akani Marquis meets with Intern Maritza Fresneda at the Catholic Social Services office on Bay Street where she surveys clients over the telephone. (Bottom row) Nurse and Accredited Diabetes Educator Rose Marie Couto goes over instructions with Intern Aida Trevera for some phone calls she makes to clients in Spanish.