On the evening of June 26th, we celebrated a significant milestone for the Community Health Workers for Advancing Public Health Program (CHWAP) with our very first graduation ceremony. This event marked the achievements of the inaugural cohort of graduates from CHWAP, an initiative co-led by the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, the Altman Clinical & Translational Research Institute’s Center for Community Health (CCH) at University of California San Diego, The Division of Extended Studies, and the Somali Family Services community organization.
Community Health Workers (CHWs) serve as a vital link between healthcare providers and the communities they support. They offer culturally sensitive care, health education, and much-needed support. By addressing health disparities and improving access to healthcare, CHWs are making a real difference in fostering equity in public health.
CHWAP is dedicated to equipping individuals from refugee, immigrant, and Native American communities in San Diego County by training them to become Community Health Workers (CHWs). To date, 66 graduates have completed the program and earned their certification. The graduates represent a rich tapestry of cultures and backgrounds, including Native American/Indigenous populations, as well as immigrant and refugee communities from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Pakistan, India, Egypt, Libya, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Tunisia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, South Korea, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Cuba, Jamaica, South Africa, Morocco, and China.
The ceremony began with an inspiring speech from Breana Mason, a standout student chosen as the commencement speaker due to her exceptional performance and dedication throughout the program. Breana, who recently secured a position as a CHW, shared her gratitude: “I have been an advocate for some time, but thanks to this course, I was hired as a Community Health Worker in April. The knowledge I gained and the pep talk from Behnan truly helped me ace my interview. Thank you, Behnan!”
Following Breana’s address, Wael Al-Delaimy, MD, PhD, the program director and professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, delivered a brief but heartfelt speech. The celebration continued with the presentation of certificates to the graduates, followed by a reception and dinner.
The impact of the program has been profound. Pre- and post-surveys show substantial improvements in participants’ skills and knowledge. Before enrolling, 20.82% of respondents felt they had little to no familiarity with the 10 core competencies of CHWs. By graduation, this figure dropped to 0%. Conversely, those who felt knowledgeable or very knowledgeable about these competencies increased from an average of 53.01% to 95.6%. The positive feedback from graduates has been overwhelming, with many encouraging their friends and family to join future cohorts.
As of July 2024, we are thrilled to have recruited the third and final cohort. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of these new candidates as they complete the program and receive their certifications.
We are in this together, working to ensure all communities have the tools and resources they need. At the forefront of this amazing movement are these CHWAP graduates, who personify resilience and push themselves to become symbols of hope for their communities.