Community Health Worker Institute

Community Health Worker Institute: Announces Inaugural Cohort of the SC Community Health Worker Program

The University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health Community Health Worker Institute (CHWI) is excited to announce the inaugural cohort of the South Carolina Community Health Worker Ambassadors Program (SC CHW Ambassadors). The South Carolina Community Health Worker Ambassadors Program (SC CHW Ambassadors) is an initiative dedicated to advancing the CHW workforce in South Carolina. The SC CHW Ambassadors Program will have a diverse group of Ambassadors to serve each year to provide expertise, advice, and guidance to state-wide partners and fellow CHWs across the state. Throughout the year, Ambassadors commit to convening quarterly to discuss a variety of health workforce issues to include CHW training, organizational preparedness, and program evaluation. Additionally, Ambassadors will receive training to provide them with the information and skills needed to be successful in their commitment.

To maximize reach and promote regional diversity, CHWs are selected to serve from each of the five regions of the state. This year over 20 applications were received from highly qualified CHWs from across the state, of which 10 Ambassadors were selected to serve for the 2019-2020 program year. The selection committee strongly considered each CHW’s application based on regional representation, diversity in services provided, populations served, and organizational role(s).

The 2019-2020 cohort includes representation from all regions of the state with expertise in chronic care management, oral health, maternal and child health, special healthcare populations, and CHW supervision. Ambassadors come from various health care and community-based organizations serving rural and urban areas of the state. Join us in congratulating the 2019-2020 SC CHW Ambassadors!