Empowering Community Health Workers and Trusted Messengers to Address Inequalities

Health inequities exist among different racial groups in the United States, particularly for Black and African American, Hispanic, Native and/or Indigenous populations. This module will address those inequities and their effect on the people they impact. Ways that community health workers can assist in decreasing them are also discussed. 

State approved for 4.5 CE credits

Total time needed to complete the course: 5-7 hours, including registration and taking the assessments.

Requirements

Participants must be 18 or older to fully participate in this course.

Course Faculty:

Emily Spence, PhD, MSW, CHWI

Dr. Emily Spence is Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Health Equity and Associate Professor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health. She has served as lead evaluator or investigator for several large community initiatives associated with interpersonal violence, health coaching, poverty, mental health, health disparities, financial stability, homelessness, and mentoring. She has published books, journal articles, and community manuscripts in the areas of evaluation, community assets, and needs, intervention development, technology use in human services, health equity, and interpersonal violence.

 Teresa Wagner, DrPH, MS, CPH, CPPS, RD/LD, CHWI, CHWC, DipACLM

Dr. Wagner is an Assistant Professor in the School of Health Professions. She teaches Communication in the Lifestyle Health Sciences program and teaches nutrition in the Diabetes Self-Management Education Program on campus. Dr. Wagner also serves as Clinical Executive for Health Literacy at SaferCare Texas and as Director of the Community Health Worker Training Program.

She’s certified in Public Health, Patient Safety, Lifestyle Medicine, and Health Coaching, and a certified Community Health Worker Instructor. Dr. Wagner has delivered multiple programs, speaking engagements, and trainings on health literacy issues. Additionally, she established both a multi-stakeholder health literacy collaborative with the DFW Hospital Council Foundation and Health Literacy Texas, a statewide nonprofit to build community around health literacy efforts in Texas. As a result of her work, she has received both the 2018 Texas Health Literacy Hero Award as well as the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas Christian University.

As a registered and licensed dietitian, certified community health worker instructor, and health coach, Dr. Wagner combines her passion for health literacy and wellness education by helping people navigate their health care.

 Lus Chavez, CHW, CHWI