BY MARIE ANNE DESROCHES, GUEST WRITER TO THE TIMES
ORLANDO – Central Florida Black Nurse Association of Orlando, Inc. (CFBNA) celebrated a milestone on Saturday, April 20, 2024, as they graduated twelve Community Health Workers (CHWs) from their fourth cohort class. Many people ask, “What is a Community Health Worker?” They are front-line community advocates who are trained to provide health education, outreach, resources, and support services within local neighborhoods. They work on solutions to community health issues, logic models, and evaluations. The training and graduation were hosted by Pastor Andrew Williams at Mercy Drive Ministries in Orlando. The graduates completed their intensive course of thirty hours, in which they focused on the core competency areas of effective communication, motivational interviewing, advocacy, resources, social determinants of health and foundation of health. As a bonus elective class Erick Sanchez, Director of Community Impact of the American Heart Association collaborated with CFBNA to teach self-monitoring blood pressure and hands only CPR. CFBNA is an official certified educational provider for the CHWs course by the Florida Certification Board. The participants received a course certificate of completion upon graduation. CHWs will receive ongoing training throughout the year to ensure they stay up to date on any new resources. The program is expanding options to participate in volunteer internship opportunities and be paired with community partners to address chronic conditions, preventative health care and social needs throughout Central Florida. Teaching the CHWs classes helped CFBNA members to form several life-long partnerships and long-lasting positive impact on many people’s lives. This was a project grant funded by the Coalition of 100 Black Women- Central Florida, President Lawanna Gelzer. For those interested in joining Central Florida Black Nurses Association of Orlando or requesting further information it is available on their website at www.cfbnaoforlando.org or consider enrollment in future CHW classes at email: [email protected].
