Minnesota CHW Association
Under the Minnesota CHW Alliance there is a CHW Association. The mission of the Alliance is to:
Mission: Establish a venue for CHWs to participate in resource sharing and information exchange. Create an opportunity for peer mentoring, support, on-going educational opportunities and a place to advocate for the CHW profession.
The Alliance will be developing pockets of CHW networks throughout Minnesota. Each of the networks will be run by CHWs and will focus on meeting their needs in order to be effective CHWs in their workplace and within their communities. These smaller networks can come together one or two times per year to share the work they are doing and to network on a state association level. Projects and trainings that the CHW Association could offer to CHWs include but are not limited to
- Continuing Education
- Job Placement training
- Support and resource sharing
- Leadership Development
- Development of tools to promote the role of the CHW within the Health Care profession
- Bring forth issues that CHW are facing so the Alliance can be proactive in resolving those issues
- Mentoring Programs
- Creating one voice in Minnesota for CHWs
- Creating a day on the Hill in St. Paul or the opportunity to create a recognized “CHW Day”
CHW Networks
In 2005, Wellshare International formerly (Minnesota International Health Volunteers) established the first statewide network for Community Health Workers. The Minnesota Community Health Worker Peer Network provides CHWs with an opportunity to receive ongoing professional training on topics relevant to CHW work, to mutually support each other and to share resources and exchange information. The Network also provides CHWs with the opportunity to serve as a collective voice to raise awareness about their profession and health issues in their communities. The Wellshare Network holds monthly meetings in the Minneapolis area. For more information please visit their website.
- Minnesota Deaf Comunity Health Worker Program
- Minnesota Tribal CHW Network