CHWs as “Ambassadors” for AlamoPromise

Colleagues,
As CHWs we are advocates for change and transformative change can only occur when we advocate for the vulnerable populations to improve their lives.  Education is key and the AlamoPromise can be the vehicle we can use to move our at-risk communities to better lives in the future.
Early next year you will be invited to attend a training session at the WETC to become “Ambassadors” for AlamoPromise.  Our goal is to inform and encourage family members, guardians, and relatives of graduating HS seniors in 2020 who do not have any plans or intentions of earning any additional educational skills after HS.

We want to use our relationships with these family members and friends to encourage them to involve their HS senior in the AlamoPromise to gain workplace certifications in over 80 different areas or an Associate Degree.  The “Ambassador” training will also include an orientation to FAFSA which can be an obstacle for some families in completing the application.
As part of this initiative, Alamo Colleges is hosting a “Cafe con Leche” to acquaint parents/family/friends about opportunities including AlamoPromise, Dual Credit, Student Support Services and more.
On December 12th from 9:00 AM to Noon at 2222 N. Alamo, the Alamo College’s new district headquarters the first “Cafe con Leche” ( flyerhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1qeKG7tvNXYYZ6QfCtWa7Og1IyiPOxY8x/view?usp=sharing) and I strongly encourage you to get the parents and family members of graduating HS seniors next Spring to attend, especially those families who have no experience with college opportunities. As alumni, join them in the event to make them feel more welcome.
You can call 210-485-0790 to pre-register, or just register when you arrive at the event.

Over 45% of all HS seniors in San Antonio never earn any additional educational certificates or degrees.  This is perhaps the single biggest social dimension that prevents individuals from a more positive future and fulfilling lives.
Each of us has a responsibility to reach out and help the changes necessary to improve our communities.
Thanks, FM

A day of Service at Sacred Heart Senior Center: Sharing Joy and Serving our Community

Community Health Worker and students will volunteer to serve the community in preparation for the festivities of Thanksgiving Day.

Volunteers will assist in the distribution of food which will be provided by the San Antonio Food Bank.

Date and Time

Wed, November 27, 2019

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM CST

Location

Sacred Heart Senior Center

2123 West Commerce Street

San Antonio, TX 78207

Activities include:

Helping with registration

Directing traffic and people

Sorting out food items

Loading food boxes/bags to individual’s vehicle or carts

You are encouraged to bring the following:

Water-resistant work gloves

Grocery plastic bags

Grocery totes you wish to donate

This will be an outdoor activity, dress comfortably. We’ll have some long sleeve t-shirts available on a first come-first served basis.

This event is in coordination with Community Health Worker Program at Northwest Vista College, San Antonio Community Health Workers Association and Sacred Heart.

Emergency/waiver Form will need to be signed. We’ll have some available the day of the event.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-day-of-service-at-sacred-heart-senior-center-sharing-joy-and-serving-our-community-tickets-82881594079

Spring 2020 Schedule

#CommunityHealthWorker enrollment for #Spring2020 is around the corner, November 11, 2019. The #CHW Program at #NorthwestVistaCollege offers great flexibility to allow students to complete their Level 1 #DSHS Certificate and/or Associates of Applied Science in Community Health. Fully online and face-to-face courses will be offered for Flex I and Flex II in the upcoming semester. Face-to-Face courses will be offered at two locations, Eastside Education and Training Center – EETC and Westside Education and Training Center.

https://www.alamo.edu/nvc/admissions-and-aid/how-to-apply/

City of San Antonio Lays Out Five-Year Plan to Reduce Domestic Violence

https://therivardreport.com/city-unveils-five-year-domestic-violence-reduction-plan/

Jenny Hixon has formulated a brilliant 5-year plan that has most of its focus on prevention of domestic violence. She told me that one aspect of her plan that is not in this article is the important work of debriefing families that have experienced murder. Not only will that help the families involved, but gathering information informs how to proceed in the future of preventing more such tragedies. This important work may involve some of us.

Appreciation Certificates October 2019

Categories: Profession Advocacy, Community Engaged and Community Advocacy

Profession Advocacy: Community Health Workers are recognized for their efforts in promoting the CHW Profession among other disciplines and community. Moreover, CHWs are acknowledged for their loyalty, advocacy and professional representation.

CHWs members recognized in October 2019 are:

Maria Isabel Vasquez

Rosa Isela Vasquez

Veronica Koppetsch

Vangie Ramirez

Magdalena Miranda

Vicente Escobedo

Rosalinda Tscheulin

Guadalupe Campos

Community Engaged: In this category, CHWs are recognized for their work, dedication and passion planning and executing events on behalf of SACHWA. CHWs’ presence and representation in the community is vital to the recognition and advancement of the profession and it is instrumental in fostering community relations and partnerships.

CHWs members recognized in October 2019 are:

Frank Morales

Robert Gomez

Ludivina Hernandez

Cynthia Parker

CHW Students recognized in October 2019: Students are recognized for going above and beyond class requirements. Students committed their time outside the classroom to engage in community service.

Students from Community Health Worker Program at Northwest Vista College were recognized during Association’s quarterly training.

https://www.alamo.edu/nvc/academics/programs/comp-sci-tech-and-business/community-health-worker/

Recognized Community Health Worker Students:

Crystal Alvarado

Josefina Perea

Community Health Workers Continuing Education Oct 2019

October 19, 2019. Community Health Workers gaining awareness of immigration policies, legal rights of immigrants, services provided by Homeland Security and AlamoPromise. We thank those who made this training possible, Fernando Martinez, Ph.D. Community Health Worker Program at Northwest Vista College, Community Health Department at Christus Health Systems and speakers from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Community Relations, Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) and Northwest Vista College’s Certified Advisor.




CHWs at Dieciseis de Septiembre Parade 2019

Special thanks to all who participated in the parade. Representation matters and having you come out with your family and friends helps create visibility of our profession and in return we, as CHWs, also have the honor to celebrate our culture and community.

Community Engagement Event

September 14, 2019. A group of Community Health Worker students from the Community Health Worker Program at Northwest Vista College led a team of Certified Community Health Workers in a walk along the Guadalupe, Calavera and Cesar Chavez Streets in the Westside of San Antonio during the Dieciseis de Septiembre Parade. Our team joined the Annual Avenida Guadalupe Association’s Parade alongside other community organizations in celebration of Mexico’s Independence.

CHWs engage and participate in cultural and community events to honor our community. We live with, work and serve members from this community and therefore our presence and active participation is a way to remind community members of the mutual collaboration and shared goals we have in common.

A special thanks to our colleagues members of the organizing committee who helped organize our participation in this community event. Robert Gomez, Frank Morales, Ludivina Hernandez, Cynthia Parker, Isabel Vasquez, Dr. Fernando Martinez and Guadalupe Cornejo thank you for your time and leadership.

San Antonio Metro Health is Hiring

Attention DSHS Certified Community Health Workers

Metro Health has two openings for two full time community health workers:

The Asthma Community Health Worker will be doing case management for the SA BREATHE program; applications accepted up to September 19th https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sanantoniotx/jobs/2561910/asthma-community-health-worker?department[0]=SA%20Metro%20Health%20District&sort=PositionTitle%7CAscending&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

The Healthy Neighborhoods Community Health Worker will be working with primarily on the Westside of San Antonio on the strategies related to tobacco-free living, breastfeeding promotion, and referrals to community programs; applications accepted up to September 30th https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sanantoniotx/jobs/2571175/community-health-worker?department[0]=SA%20Metro%20Health%20District&sort=PositionTitle%7CAscending&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs


CHWs at 16 de Septiembre Parade

September 14, 2019 @ 8:00 am 2:00 pm

Community Health Worker Students from Northwest Vista College and members of the San Antonio Community Health Workers Association will be marching together in celebration of the 16 de Septiembre Parade.

“The Avenida Guadalupe neighborhood Dieciséis de Septiembre Parade began 38 years ago in an effort to preserve and memorialize occurrences in local Mexican-American history, particularly recognizing San Antonio de Bexar’s important role in “El Grito de Dorores” (the Cry of Dolores) and the Mexican War of Independence” (Avenida).

In 2016, we particpated for the first time and we’ve made this a symbolic celebration to honor our connection to the community. This is a family friendly event and CHWs are encouraged to bring family and friends to join us in the walk or to enjoy the parade along the streets of the neigborhood.

Free