Virginia Community Health Worker Association (VACHWA)

Richmond, Virginia

Mission

The Virginia Community Health Worker Association (VACHWA) provides a platform for community health workers (CHWs) to connect, learn, and advocate personally and professionally.

Internship Summary

During my internship with the Virginia Community Health Worker Association (VACHWA), I had the opportunity to contribute to its mission of supporting Community Health Worker workforce development. Working alongside dedicated professionals, I supported initiatives aimed at empowering community health workers (CHWs) and enhancing their role in bridging gaps in healthcare. My experience included assisting with community outreach, health education development, and research on public health accessibility. Through this work, I gained valuable insight into grassroots health advocacy and the importance of culturally informed interventions in improving health outcomes.

Internship Blog

Internship Competencies

Competency Rating Scale:

0 = Cannot do this at all; inexperienced
1 = Poor ability-struggling to do
2 = Fair ability-skills need honing
3 = Satisfactory ability-competent
4 = Excellent ability-advanced

Planning and Management to Promote Health

• Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health
  • Rating: 4
  • I addressed this competency through the HHEART Development process and post-conference evaluation activities. Specifically, I engaged with stakeholders during the tool development process to gather relevant community data and identify health needs, priorities, and available resources. Post-conference activities further reinforced this by providing an opportunity to analyze feedback and identify key insights into the CHW attendee experience. These activities allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the local population’s strengths and areas for improvement, as well as develop strategies to leverage these assets in future initiatives.
  • I rated myself a 4 because I successfully utilized community input to assess health needs and priorities. Although I was actively involved in this process, I believe I could further enhance my data analysis and needs assessment skills by exploring more advanced methods of community engagement and needs mapping.

• Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health policies or programs
  • Rating: 3
  • Throughout my internship, I applied this competency during the development of the HHEART tool and the EMS Workshop. I worked closely with diverse stakeholders, including community members, to ensure that the tool was culturally relevant and accessible. I also collaborated with leadership to ensure the EMS Workshop reflected cultural values and was designed with inclusivity in mind. The feedback we received highlighted the importance of understanding cultural dynamics in public health programming, which further informed the project’s final design and delivery.
  • I rated myself a 3 because I consistently considered cultural values when designing and delivering public health programs. I believe my awareness of cultural considerations is strong, but I would like to gain additional experience in adapting programs for even more specific cultural groups.

Communication

• Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
  • Rating: 3
  • This competency was addressed through the EMS Workshop development and delivery. I worked with leadership to create clear and concise materials that communicated public health information effectively to various audiences. I also assisted in preparing oral presentations and ensuring that the content was accessible to participants with varying levels of health literacy. I employed different forms of media, such as slides, videos, and handouts, to enhance understanding and engagement during the workshop.
  • I rated myself a 3 because I effectively communicated public health content to a broad audience. While I ensured the information was clear and engaging, I recognize that there is always room to improve my presentation skills, especially in adjusting my communication approach based on audience feedback.

• Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content
  • Rating: 4
  • This competency was particularly emphasized in the development of the HHEART tool, which included a culturally tailored Spanish-translated version to support the growing Spanish-speaking community. I participated in discussions around the cultural nuances of health education and communication, ensuring that the Spanish version was not only a direct translation but also culturally appropriate. Additionally, I worked to incorporate culturally relevant examples and language that resonated with different community members for the tool and EMS workshop development processes.
  • I rated myself a 4 because I recognized and applied the importance of cultural competence in communication throughout my internship. My work on the HHEART tool’s Spanish translation and the cultural adaptation of other materials demonstrated a strong understanding of these principles. However, I would like to explore more diverse cultural contexts to further refine my approach to communication.

Interprofessional Practice

• Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health.
  • Rating: 4
  • I integrated perspectives from various sectors during the development of the HHEART tool and EMS Workshop. These projects involved collaboration with public health professionals, community leaders, and student healthcare providers, among others. Through these collaborations, I gained valuable insights into how different sectors contribute to population health and how these contributions can be coordinated effectively. This interprofessional approach allowed me to understand and address broader social determinants of health and create more holistic public health interventions.
  • I rated myself a 4 because I successfully collaborated with professionals from different fields to promote population health. I would, however, like to strengthen my ability to integrate these diverse perspectives even earlier in the planning stages of future projects.

Concentration Competencies

• APH3. Using population health data and results from community needs assessments, write a health problem statement for a specific community health problem.
  • Rating: 4
  • During the HHEART Development process, I analyzed population health data to identify key community health issues. I used this data to draft a health problem statement that clearly articulated the issues facing the community. This process required synthesizing community needs and health outcomes into a focused problem statement that could guide future interventions. Similarly, post-conference evaluation efforts utilized similar approaches to gauge CHW attendee satisfaction and identify mechanisms needing improvement for future conferences.
  • I rated myself a 4 because I was able to develop a clear and concise health problem statement using data from community needs assessments. While I am confident in my ability to analyze and synthesize data, I plan to refine my skills in framing problem statements in a way that is both data-driven and action-oriented.

• APH4. Develop a public health program implementation plan, including program goals & objectives, work plans, budgets, and timelines.
  • Rating: 4
  • This competency was addressed through my involvement in the planning stages of both the HHEART and the EMS Workshop. I assisted in developing detailed work plans, setting clear goals and objectives, and helping establish timelines for deliverables. I also gained experience in budgeting by working with leadership to allocate resources for the various aspects of the programs, ensuring that all tasks were completed on time and within the budget.
  • I rated myself a 4 because I was able to develop comprehensive plans for public health programs. However, I would like to continue gaining experience in managing larger budgets and timelines, as well as adapting these plans to unexpected changes.

• APH5. Develop a written plan to apply processes that integrate transdisciplinary perspectives, contributions, and collaborations to address health disparities.
  • Rating: 4
  • The EMS Workshop and HHEART tool development allowed me to integrate transdisciplinary perspectives into the planning process. Through collaboration with professionals from multiple sectors—public health, education, community organizations, and healthcare—I was able to develop a more comprehensive plan that addressed health disparities. These collaborations helped ensure that the program was responsive to the needs of marginalized populations and considered the social determinants of health.
  • I rated myself a 4 because I successfully collaborated across disciplines to develop inclusive health interventions. I will continue to work on integrating more diverse perspectives earlier in the planning phase to strengthen future programs.