NH Community Health Worker (CHW) Summit meets in April

Littleton, NH, April 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — More than 150 Community Health Workers (CHWs), health care providers, social workers, policymakers and government agencies will gather at the New Hampshire CHW Summit in Concord on April 30, 2024 to support CHWs and their essential role in public health and the healthcare system. The Summit – with the theme “Lighting of the future” – will not only educate about and for CHWs, but also share strategies on how to integrate this critical workforce into clinical and social service practices.

Organized by the NH Community Health Worker (CHW) Coalition, along with the North Country Health Consortium (NCHC) and the Southern New Hampshire Area Health Education Center, the 2024 NH CHW Summit will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in April. 30 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH. The event will include six keynote speakers, as well as ten educational breakout sessions and “crash courses.” Topics focus on the role CHWs play in a range of services, from supportive care and addressing stigma in marginalized communities to disability health care and administering life-saving naloxone.

CHWs are trained professionals who work in and with the community to coordinate social and health services for individuals, often connecting people to basic needs such as food and housing. The State of New Hampshire has provided funding to NCHC to lead a statewide initiative to increase access to CHWs. Studies show that interventions using CHWs can reduce burden on healthcare providers, improve health outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs – demonstrating a return on investment (ROI) of up to $3 for every $1 spent.

According to Amber Culver, program manager for CHWs-NH, “We are excited to convene partners and allies from across the state to train, grow and deploy this critical workforce. Our system is facing an extreme crisis. Increasing the availability of CHWs in practices helps address healthcare and behavioral health workforce shortages, unequal access to care for rural and marginalized populations, isolation for New Hampshire’s increasing aging population, and rising healthcare costs. Those who work as CHWs are truly ‘Lighting the Future’ on a path to better health and well-being.”

Invitation to journalists: Interview opportunities are available with event speakers and organizers and media are encouraged to attend. RSVP to [email protected] or call (207) 329-6767 if you would like to attend and/or arrange an interview.

More information about the NH CWH Summit 2024: https://nhchw.org/event/community-health-worker-summit-2024/

About the CHWs-NH initiative: North Country Health Consortium (NCHC) is a nonprofit public health organization funded by the State of New Hampshire to work with partners to implement a statewide CHWs-NH initiative. This initiative seeks to provide CHW training, build a sustainable CHW workforce, and collaborate with stakeholders to develop CHW certification and support statewide data collection. For more information about the CHW initiative, visit https://chws-nh.org.

Funding for the CHW initiative is provided under a contract with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services, with funds supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a CDC/HHS funding award “NH Initiative to tackle COVID-19 Health Disparities Grant #NH750T000031”. The contents of this press release do not necessarily represent the official views of, or an endorsement by, CDC/HHS or the U.S. government.”