Department of Health celebrates importance of Community Health Workers
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health’s Office of Community Health Workers celebrate New Mexico Community Health Workers Month and will also be hosting the upcoming 2023 New Mexico Statewide Community Health Workers (CHW) Conference on October 16 & 17, 2023 in Bernalillo, N.M.
CHW’s - also known around the state as both Tribal Community Health Representatives, and Promotor or Promatoras – are local or regional caregivers, often living and working in the most rural parts of the state. Their job is to connect people to needed medical and health-based services, including social systems of care.
“Community health workers are at the forefront of our efforts to alleviate health disparities and managing chronic diseases in public health,” said DOH Secretary Patrick Allen. “In rural and frontier regions, they are often the first resource for residents to engage with when talking about their health concerns.”
“Community Health Workers are the unwavering support system for those seeking direction in their journey to access essential aid, making their impact immeasurable," said Devona Quam, Office of Community Health Workers Director.
The DOH Office of Community Health Workers (OCHW) in 2014 was one of the first established in the United States and provides core competency and specialty training opportunities for state CHW certification and re-certification.
The OCHW’s 2023 New Mexico Statewide Community Health Workers Conference, hosted by the Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel, will deliver two days of learning opportunities that will provide continuing education training and workforce development opportunities to support New Mexico state Community Health Workers/Representatives certification. Included among this year’s sessions is providing information on mandates related to the New Mexico Medicaid Reimbursement model launched July 2023 in partnership with the state Human Services Department, Medical Assistance Division.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s proclamation naming October New Mexico Community Health Workers Month is available online. More information on the Office of Community health Workers is available on the DOH website at https://www.nmhealth.org/about/phd/pchb/ochw/.
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El Departamento de Salud reconoce la importancia de los promotores comunitarios de la salud