VACHWA
The Virginia Community Health Worker Association (VACHWA) is a space for community health workers (inclusive of all titles) to network and grow personally and professionally through education and advocacy.
About Us
The CHW Section has adopted the following definition of a community health worker: A community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.
A community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.
How We Work
Who is a CHW and What do we do?
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(I) applies his (her) unique understanding of the experience, language, and culture of the populations he (she) serves to promote healthy living and to help people take greater control over their health and lives and
(II) is trained to work in a variety of community settings, partnering in the delivery of health and human services to carry out one or more of the following roles: (a) providing culturally appropriate health education and information; (b) linking people to direct service providers, including informal counseling; (c) advocating for individual and community needs, including identification of gaps and existing strengths and actively building individual and community capacity.
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Community Health Worker roles can be categorized as:
- Community Mobilization and Outreach
- Health Promotion and Coaching
- Service System Access and Navigation
- Care Coordination/Management
- Community-Based Support
- Participatory Research
Team
The Virginia Community Health Worker Association (VACHWA) is led by industry professionals; who are committed to serving, developing and building their community through access to education and equity in public health.
Board of Directors
Stephanie Carrington
President
Lydia English
Treasurer
Vacant Positions
Secretary & Techn Officer
Keandra Holloway
Vice President
William Thornton
Treasurer-Candidate
STAFF
Shanteny Jackson
Executive Director
Teneysa Godwin
Outreach Coordinator
Membership
The Association has several membership options. An active membership provides you with direct and indirect benefits. Direct benefits include voting rights, board participation, conference discounts, meeting notifications and special announcements, and newsletters. Indirect benefits are corporate discounts (retail and businesses), financial services with banking institutions, and networking opportunities. The standard membership provides you with access to listserv, newsletters, meeting notifications, and special announcements and networking opportunities.
STRONGER TOGETHER
We thank you for your sacrifice and dedication to our just cause. Together we are stronger, better, efficient and unstoppable in our quest to build better communities through access to health services. At VACHW we believe “Together we can make a difference.
Resources
Virginia Community Health Workers Association (VACHWA) can help you find networking, educational, and professional resources to enhance your experience as a Community Health Worker. Click on any of the links to the right for more information.
VA Certification Board
VA Registry Database
Training
Employment
Depository Center
CHW Landscape and Community Resources Interactive Map
Use our interactive map to quickly find information and locations of community resources near you. If you wish to have a resource added to our interactive map, fill out one of our programs, CHWs, or donor forms.
Downloads
Below are downloadable files for your professional development and enrichment.
VACHWA
The Virginia Community Health Worker Association (VACHWA) is led by industry professionals; who are committed to serving, developing and building their community through access to education and equity in public health.
GET IN TOUCH
- Call : 804-645-6313
- Email : info@chwofva.com