Health Promoter Work Group
Some CJ Health Promoter Work Group members, including Latinos/as trained by the group, posing at the April 2010 Regional Health Promoter Conference.
In May 2007, the CJ Health Promoter Work Group was formed with the objective of providing Charlottesville and Albemarle County Latinos greater access to health care with a Lay Health Promoter program.
Since then, the group has organized a Latino Health Survey, a large Help Fair, public panels addressing the Health Promoter model, and among other initiatives, a daylong encounter – the First Regional Health Promoter Conference – with health promoters from Richmond and Harrisonburg. The latter was a productive venue for sharing knowledge, experiences, and resources, as well as for strengthening partnerships with groups preparing health promoters.
A major focus of the work group has been training Latino Health Promoters and assuring their skills reach our Spanish speaking residents. The twenty four who graduated in November 2008 and 2009 quickly passed on their knowledge through health screenings – in help fairs, migrant camps and Latino grocery stores, hair salons, and meetings – which benefited hundreds in the traditionally underserved community.
For 2011, the seven new health promoters who graduated in fall 2010 are planning similar screenings to begin in the spring. Among other activities, the work group is preparing for the Second Annual Regional Health Promoter Conference, to be held in Richmond on March 5, and to include health promoters from Charlottesville, Nelson County, Harrisonburg, Richmond, and maybe Northern Virginia. Again, such encounters help promoters from around the state to gain ideas and support for each other’s ongoing work.
Individuals and agencies interested in joining or supporting the group or requiring more information should contact its coordinators: Jan Wolfe (RHOP), wlfwmn@gmail.com; Nila Saliba (UVA Cancer Center), ns7e@virginia.edu; or Aaron Miller (SARA), aaron@saracville.org
Contents
Work Group Members
Founding and present membership
Activities
Past and present work group initiatives
Meeting Notes, Updates, Media Reports & Emails
Resources & Contacts – English
Graduation: Health Promoters Class of 2008