Southeast CHW Network Summit

The annual summit provides a space for individuals within the SE CHW Network to gather together to acknowledge the impact of the work they do in their communities, share best practices, and address challenges and barriers.

The 2023 SE CHW Network Summit in Charlotte, NC provided an opportunity for more than 200 CHWs and allies to connect with regional leaders and peers, learn from industry professionals, inspire change for the Southeast and beyond, and earn continuing education credits (CEUs) for attending the summit. The summit featured a keynote from Dove Dupree and more than 20 workshops on topics related to CHW research, oral health, and advocacy campaigns designed and led by CHWs.

Different from previous years, the 2023 SE CHW Network Summit Planning Committee created an employer support toolkit for CHWs and allies to use when requesting support to attend the summit. The documents helped employers better understand the importance of attendance and outlined the estimated cost.

We are looking forward to building on this momentum and hosting another inspiring SE CHW Network Summit in 2024!

Past Events

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2021 Southeast CHW Network Summit

In 2021, CCHA was honored to host the first annual Southeast Community Health Worker Network Summit, with support from Johnson & Johnson’s Race to Health Equity Campaign, in December of 2021. Featured at the summit were speakers from organizations including Denise Smith, NACHW Executive Director; Dr. John Gilford, HHS Regional Health Administrator; Georgia Simpson, Regional Minority Health Analyst, Region I – New England, and more.

Utilizing a virtual platform allowed CHWs, health professionals, and allies to meet other like-minded individuals and network with people they would otherwise be miles away from. The participants of the summit represented more than 16 U.S. states and territories! Summit participants were encouraged to join a variety of breakout rooms centered around CHW practices.

  • Summit Materials:
  • Link to full Summit video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9dxN0CT16c
  • Summit slides
  • Schedule of Events
      • Welcome & Poetry
      • CHW Regional Network History and Progress from Region I – Georgia Simpson, HHS Regional Minority Health Analyst, Region I
      • APHA Advancing Racial Equity & Violence Prevention – Abdul Hafeedh bin Abdullah, CHW-VPP, & Rumana Shams Rabbani, MHA, CHW-VPP
      • Opening Remarks – Dr. John Gilford, HHS Regional Health Administrator
      • Building the National Association of Community Health Workers – Denise Smith, NACHW Executive Director
      • Breakout Sessions
        • Advancing Policy to Support CHWs– Carl Rush, MRP NACHW Policy Advisor
        • SC CHW Ambassadors Program Overview – Andrea Heyward, CHWI Director; Jaquetta Graham, CHW; Rebekah Shilling, CHW, CEIM, CLC, FPHW, CPST, LCCE
      • State presentations
      • Menti: SE Network Summit menti.pdf
      • Spoken word from Dom Francis

2022 Southeast CHW Network Summit

2022 Southeast Community Health Worker Network Summit

Friday, December 9th

DoubleTree by Hilton
Birmingham Perimeter Park
8 Perimeter Park South
Birmingham, AL 35243

9:00 am – 4:00 pm (CST)

Event Flyer – English
Event Flyer – Spanish
Detailed Agenda
Breakout Descriptions
Pre-Summit Reception

2022 General Session Summit Slide Deck

The 2022 SE CHW Network Summit was held in Birmingham, Alabama. 130 CHWs, CHW Allies, and public health and healthcare professionals attended. While the majority of attendees were from the Southeast, others traveled from states like California and Arizona.

Our keynote speaker Floribella Redondo-Martinez, a longstanding and well renowned CHW with over 30 years of experience as a leader in this field, is the President of the Arizona Community Health Workers Association. The keynote presentation covered the areas of reflexive CHW workforce advocacy to increase efficacy by understanding the importance and operationalization of self-care. We had seven innovative breakout sessions composed of over 25 speakers that covered topics requested by the SECHW Network during prior meetings which were selected for meeting desired criteria and high caliber. Within this cohort were presenters who provided information on: LGBTQIA+, Latinx youth and parenting, poetic ethnographic storytelling, self-care specific to our workforce, and leadership development to advance the growth of our field among others.

We strategically planned to host the SE CHW Network Summit in Alabama, because it is one of the only states in our network that does not have an association or coalition. Many Alabama CHW leaders were able to connect and mobilize at the event. Great strides have been made to initiate the Alabama organization following the Summit. Equitable access was intentionally considered throughout the process of the planning of the summit and we were proud to include and offer live English/Spanish translation for sessions as well as American Sign Language interpretation.

We were excited to offer Continuing Education Credits to those who participated to ensure the conference contributed toward individual certifications and professional development!

Do you need your CEU certificates? Please forward your completed evaluation emails to sechw@mailbox.sc.edu and you will receive your certificates in 7-10 business days.

2023 Southeast CHW Network Summit

2023 Southeast Community Health Worker Network Summit

Thursday September 14th and Friday September 15th

Hilton Charlotte Airport
2800 Coliseum Centre Dr.
Charlotte, NC 28217
Event Flyer
Summit Agenda (with links to presentations)

The 2023 SE CHW Network Summit was held in Charlotte, North Carolina. More than 200 CHWs, CHW Allies, and public health and healthcare professionals attended. While the majority of attendees were from the Southeast, others traveled from states like California and Michigan.

We were excited to offer Continuing Education Credits to those who participated to ensure the conference contributed toward individual certifications and professional development!

Do you need your CEU certificates? Please forward your completed evaluation emails to sechw@mailbox.sc.edu and you will receive your certificates in 7-10 business days.