Community Health Workers Association of Connecticut

1. Community Health Workers Association of Connecticut A Section of the CT Public Health Association About the Association For more information contact: chwassociation@cpha.info http://www.cpha.info/?page=CHWACT

2. A Community Health Worker is… … a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of, and ability to communicate with the community served. This trusting relationship enables the CHW to serve as a liaison-link-intermediary among the community, health and social services to facilitate access to resources and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A CHW 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. Approved March 19, 2014

3. “We are CHWs” We are the statewide professional association for Community Health Workers in Connecticut. We are CHWs who go by many job titles and work in a variety of work settings or programs, and we are CHW supervisors, allies and advocates.

4. Association Mission To advance the CHW workforce through policy, education, research and leadership Approved on June 19, 2014

5. Association Core Values CHANGE: We believe in the effectiveness of CHWs empowerment to transform individuals and communities. JUSTICE: We protect the capacity of CHWs to function ethically and with care. We accomplish this with integrity and courage. LEADERSHIP: We take steps to advance the CHW workforce and inspire others to join us. Approved on July 7, 2014

6. Association Activities • Provide information, education and capacity-building for CHWs, CHW employers, CHW champions and community members • Offer networking and professional development opportunities for CHWs Continued

7. Association Activities continued • Influence CHW-related policymaking and advocate for a strong, sustainable CHW workforce in Connecticut • Collect and share current • data impacting the CHW • workforce in Connecticut, • New England and the U.S.

8. Association History - Timeline

9. Association Structure Connecticut Public Health Association Board of Directors CHW Association of Connecticut CHWs 9

10. Meet the Association Leadership

11. Milagrosa “Millie” Seguinot, President Millie is a founding member of the Association and President of its Board of Directors. Millie has extensive experience supporting multicultural, diverse populations in the areas of mutual housing, education, parenting and parent leadership. She is employed as the CHW Project Coordinator at SW Area Health Education Center, teaches CHW core-competency training, and as a CHW, connects Bridgeport mothers with medical homes and immunizations for their children. In the recent past, Millie was Navigator Key Staff for Access Health CT, helping residents enroll in insurance plans. Millie is a Notary Public and a Justice of the Peace. She has an A.A. degree in Secretarial Science from the University of Puerto Rico and has studied business applications at Goodwin College.

12. Loretta D. EbronVice President For nearly 20 years, Loretta has served lower-income residents of southwestern Connecticut through advocacy, education, and by connecting them with services in their communities. As a Senior Community Health Worker at Optimus Health Care, Loretta assists in overseeing a staff of four Certified Application Counselors, one SNAP outreach worker and one AmeriCorps member. She also helps families enroll in Access Health CT and works as a School Based Health Center worker at two local high schools and seven elementary schools. Since August 2014, Loretta has been a CHW instructor at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport. ​

13. Elena PadinSecretary Elena is dedicated to improving the lives of her fellow residents. After beginning her career as a receptionist for the Commission in Human Rights and Opportunities, Elena worked at Christopher Shays for 15 years, providing case management and outreach to the 4th congressional district. She currently works as an Outreach Worker for Southwest Community Health Center, assisting children and families at School Based Health Centers. Elena is a Board member for The Greater Bridgeport OIC and member of Knights of Columbus Columbiette Auxiliary #2616.  Elena was recently awarded the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) CT Chapter Award for leadership and significant contributions to the success of the NAHN.

14. Moraima HernandezTreasurer A Bridgeport resident, Mory has worked on the HUSKY health program since its inception and she also chairs the Community Task Force. She is an active member of the Community Health Workers Association of Connecticut and also services on the Board of Directors at Southwest Community Health Center.

15. Maria Millan Assistant Treasurer Maria is a CHW and human services professional with progressive experience in outreach, health education and case management. She has a passion for advocating on behalf of individual’s and community needs. During her 16 years of work for the City of Stamford, Maria has completed numerous trainings and certificates and has worked extensively with multicultural, diverse and underserved populations to enhance quality of life. Maria has expertise in Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Qualified Health Plans (Access Heath CT), Welfare to Work Programs, Medicare and Case Management and is fluent in Spanish, Galician and conversational Portuguese.

16. Jacqeline Ortiz Miller Member at Large Jacqueline has been a CHW for 7 years. She is very passionate about her community and its challenges, and strives towards bridging the gaps to healthcare and other community services. Jacqueline is a member of the CT Public Health Association CHW Section and the Multi-Cultural Health Network. She is also a Health Equity Fellow with the CT Health Foundation and a member of the New England Coalition of CHWs. She recently served on the Consumer Advisory Board and the SIM CHW Advisory Board. Nationally, she belongs to the American Public Health Association CHW Section, where she has chaired the Nominations Committee and participates on the Community Health and Policy Committee. Jacqueline is a co-fellow for the CHW Common Core (C3) Project, a national study compiling a contemporary Scope of Practice of the CHW workforce, and chairs its Advisory Committee of CHWs and CHW Association representatives from across the country.

17. Carmen Sarmiento Director at Large Carmen's first professional job was as an Intake Worker for the Community Renewal Team of Greater Hartford. After nine years at CRT she moved up again at Charter Oak Health Center as a Community Outreach Worker. She is a Charter Oak Health Center liaison to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. She's recently been promoted to Community Health Coordinator. Carmen has also received the Public Leadership Citation by State of Connecticut Office of the Treasurer, Certificates of Recognition by both the Mayor of Hartford and by the Lieutenant Governor of CT Nancy Wyman. She was also named The Lion's Club Mother of the Year for 2014 and the Connecticut Hispanic Firefighter's Association Outreach Worker of the year, also in 2014.

18. Maria V. DeJesus Director at Large Maria V Dejesus has been living in the United States for 32 years. She is from Colombia. Maria started working for Optimus Community Health Center in 2008 and became an Outreach Worker in 2010. She has been working as a Medical Assistant for the last two years. She loves working in the community helping individuals and families finding support and providing practical services. Maria also had been publishing good news for about fifteen years giving them a solid hope for the future. She is married and has two children and two granddaughters.

19. Many thanks to the generosity of these Champions who supported the Association’s work in 2016 SW Area Health Education Center – Meredith Ferraro, Executive Director CT Public Health Association – KathiTraugh, Past President Optimus Community Health Center – Ludwig M. Spinelli, CEO Southwest Community Health Center – Katherine S. Yacavone, CEO Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition – Mary Pat C. Healy, Director Hispanic Health Council – Grace Damio, Director of Research and Service Initiatives CT Health Foundation – Patricia Baker CEO CT State Innovation Model –Mark C. Schaefer, Director Any many more.