Celebrating National CHW Awareness Week: Equipping Community Health Workers for Success at The Leon Institute
In honor of National Community Health Worker (CHW) Awareness Week, we are excited to highlight the journey of Trent, a dedicated graduate of The Leon Institute's CHW Training Program. His story embodies our commitment to equipping and empowering Community Health Workers to make a meaningful impact in their communities.
A Passion for Helping Others
Trent's path into the field of community health was sparked by a deep-seated desire to help those in need. “What inspired me to get into this field was the willingness to help,” Trent shared. “I’ve always liked helping the homeless population on the streets, whether it was buying them food or giving out waters and gift bags on holidays.” This passion for service led him to pursue a career at Encompass Housing, where he now serves as a Client Support Specialist, extending his impact on a larger scale.
Equipping for Impact: The Leon Institute’s CHW Training Program
Trent credits The Leon Institute’s CHW Training Program with providing the skills and knowledge essential to his role at Encompass Housing. “The CHW course really helped me with assisting clients of different needs because it taught me about all sorts of programs that I can suggest when clients are facing obstacles such as transportation services.” Through the program, Trent gained a comprehensive understanding of available resources, allowing him to offer practical solutions tailored to his clients' unique challenges.
One of the key aspects of our CHW Training Program is preparing trusted members of communities to become frontline public health workers. Our curriculum covers essential topics like health education, care management, social support, and advocacy. We aim to address the social determinants of health, promote health equity, and empower CHWs to serve as vital links between health and social services and the communities they serve.
Building Connections and Changing Lives
For Trent, the training was transformative not just in terms of knowledge, but also in how he interacts with clients. “The course has changed the way I interact with clients because I now can listen to what the clients are going through and find solutions,” he reflected. “Something you say to a client can change their whole life, and when someone is at their low in life, it is hard to ask for help. Morally supporting them is the first step in helping them get back on their feet.” Trent makes every effort to check in on clients, ask how they are doing, and be an uplifting presence on good days and bad.
Advice for Aspiring Community Health Workers
When asked what advice he would give to other Community Health Workers, Trent emphasized the importance of listening. “You can really learn a lot about somebody by listening to what they have to say. I find that is the best way to truly understand what they are going through. You may relate on certain aspects, and that’s always something that can help you in assisting the clients — being able to relate to them and certain hardships you have encountered in life and how you overcame them. This is great for motivation.”
Looking Ahead
Trent sees his role evolving in the future, expressing, “I would like to eventually be more hands-on in assisting them in a case management role and helping the clients through the whole process,” he said, reflecting on how his training has laid a strong foundation for his growth and continued impact.
At The Leon Institute, our mission is to empower individuals like Trent to become advocates and change-makers in their communities. Our CHW Training Program not only provides essential skills and knowledge but also fosters a deep commitment to service, health equity, and social justice. By equipping more Community Health Workers, we aim to create a ripple effect of positive change, one client, one community at a time.
"Community Health Workers are the heart of our healthcare system, bringing trust, compassion, and culturally relevant care directly to the people who need it most and empowering communities to thrive.”
-Aimee Cox, Executive Director of The Leon Institute
As we celebrate National CHW Awareness Week, we are proud of Trent's achievements and inspired by the dedication of all Community Health Workers. We remain committed to supporting their growth and success, as they continue to be the backbone of public health in our communities.
Here's to empowering more CHWs and building a healthier, more equitable world together!
About The Leon Institute: The Leon Institute exists to transform the health and wellbeing of vulnerable populations and under-resourced communities by equipping them with knowledge and skills to create meaningful and lasting change. We do this by providing quality, evidence-based and community-defined training, connecting diverse groups of people to address urgent health challenges, and conducting and disseminating research to improve care delivery.