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

Denise Hernandez, PhD, MPH, CHWI

Carlene Thomas-King, CEO, REB, Certified Mediator and Arbitrator

Carlene is a Community Health Worker instructor, manager, and Outreach Coordinator at Cancer Care Services.  She participates in media interviews, health fairs, outreach, and awareness activities, as well as one-on-one mentoring, helping those dealing with cancer to successfully navigate their journey and advocate for themselves.  As a survivor and mentor her role is to walk hand-in-hand with a cancer patient from the beginning of their diagnosis all the way through to the end of treatment and recovery so they don’t have to go through any of it alone or without hope. Her daughters have joined her mission and are great advocates for themselves and their friends in cancer education and prevention.

Carlene is a board member of the DFW-CHW Association, a member of the Fort Worth Housing Solutions Family Self-Sufficiency Committee, she is also a professional member of the National Association of Community Health Workers, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, and a mediator for the Texas Department of Insurance.  Carlene wants to help reduce the stress for those dealing with cancer and help eliminate the barriers to housing for those in marginalized communities.

Priscilla Wachira, LPC and author

Priscilla Wachira is a Nationally Certified Counselor with a strong background in public health as a Community Health Worker and a deep commitment to community engagement through partnership development and outreach. With nine years of experience in the field, Ms. Wachira is passionate about empowering people from diverse cultures and backgrounds to improve their physical and mental health. Her research interests include health equity from an empowerment perspective and mental health within the African, immigrant community. Priscilla firmly believes in creating safe spaces that enhance emotional healing and connection while reducing perceptions of judgment or shame. For her, healing begins when individuals feel seen and heard, and she is committed to facilitating that process for her all clients.

Tarri Wyre, CHW

Tarri Wyre is a Manager of Community Health Worker Programs at Memorial Hermann Community Benefits. She provides support to ER Navigators throughout the northern region of Memorial Herman Emergency Department which includes, The Woodlands, Northeast, Greater Heights, and Memorial City. Tarri completed her Bachelor of Science at Southeastern Louisiana University. She is a certified community health worker instructor, a member of the National Association for Community Health Workers (NACHW), and serves as a member and treasurer for the Board of Texas Association of Promoters and Community (TAPCHW) Health Workers (CHW).

Tarri enjoys networking and bringing people together. She loves teaching and empowering CHWs to see the endless opportunities within the public health sector. Tarri is an innovative professional who advocates for transformation, promotes change, and champions improvement through the community to ensure that all community members are provided with the resources necessary to be successful.