Hawai‘i Community Health Worker 2023 Fall Updates

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR

Aloha Hawai‘i CHWs,

How proud I am to be a part of this profession. In this past month, I have witnessed with my own eyes how CHWs across all of the islands have gotten together for Lāhainā. CHWs have gathered in person, virtually, and on the phone to see how they can help, individually and with organizations. I am so proud that we have shared stories, resources, and pain. CHWs moved; there was no thinking of doing less. CHWs did not wait to be instructed; you carried your lead. Maui CHWs! Our hearts pour out to you and your leadership. Ashley Tone, mahalo for taking the initiative to go and gather us and voice what was needed. Again, CHWs, we just knew, we just knew what needed to be done to comfort our people and share resources. We are born with the gift of humility.

Nationally, August was CHW awareness week. Please share this newsletter with your colleagues and organizations you work with. Share with your supervisor, and be proud of the road we are on together for a better future and a better and stronger CHW profession.

Thank you,
Claudia Hartz
Chair 

2023 HAWAI‘I COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER ASSOCIATION REGIONAL MEETINGS

Mahalo for attending our 2023 HICHW Association Regional Meetings! We had a great time with our CHWs throughout the state, discussing HICHW Association updates, sustainability pathways, and unique issues each island faces. Thank you to the many organizations that helped provide a space to gather CHWs for these meetings, including Lānaʻi Community Health Center, Hawai‘i Island Community Health Center, Moloka‘i Community Health Center, HMSA on Maui, Department of Health on Kaua‘i and Kapi‘olani Community College.   

Hawai‘i Island – Kona

Hawai‘i Island – Hilo

Maui

Moloka‘i

O‘ahu

Lānaʻi

Kaua‘i

What’s next? We encourage CHWs to stay connected with the HICHW Association to keep up-to-date on all the discussions that happened throughout our Regional Meetings. Join us for our monthly CHW Only Meeting every third Thursday from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Our next monthly meeting will be on Thursday, October 19, 2023. To join these meetings, visit our website at hichw.org or email us at info@hichw.org. 

NEWEST BOARD MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

We want to congratulate our Chair of the HICHW Association, Claudia Hartz, for her recent election to the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW) Board of Directors. 

In August, nearly 30 CHWs and Allies from Hawai‘i attended the 2023 Unity Conference in Austin, Texas. This conference was the first in-person conference held by NACHW since the COVID-19 pandemic began. It was an inspirational event to attend, and our CHWs left with tools and encouragement to continue moving the CHW workforce forward in Hawai‘i. We also got to witness our very own CHW and Chair of the HICHW Association be voted in as one of the newest NACHW board members. We continue to congratulate and thank Claudia for her heart for our Hawai‘i communities and the CHWs throughout the state. 

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Do you have a passion for Community Health Workers? Apply for the Hawai‘i Community Health Worker Association Coordinator position today. In this role, you will help advance the HICHW Association forward and continue efforts to grow the CHW workforce throughout Hawai‘i. To apply for this position, visit  hiphi.org/employment. 

Are you interested in working as a CHW or Bilingual Health Aide (BHA)? Hawai‘i Public Health Institute is hiring CHWs and BHA and will deploy them to outside organizations to help address COVID-19-related illness and other chronic disease conditions. Organizations we are partnering up with include: 

• KTA Super Stores on Hawai‘i Island
• Mauliola Pharmacy on Maui
• Catholic Charities on O‘ahu
• Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies on O‘ahu

 To become a part of this team, visit hiphi.org/employment. 

For other CHW-related job openings, visit the hichw.org/employment page today! 

STAY CONNECTED

• Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @HawaiiCHWA to stay connected with the association and all CHW happenings throughout Hawai‘i. 
• Join our listserv to get monthly newsletters and additional resources sent directly to you. 

To learn more about how you can support CHWs throughout the state of Hawai‘i, please contact info@hichw.org.