Douglas County Community Outreach Project

.Community Health Worker (CHW) Model

In striving to reduce health disparities among minority populations in Douglas County, an Outreach to Minority Populations project was launched in the Spring of 2002 targeting hard-to-reach members of our minority communities. Community Health Workers, representing the African American, Hispanic and Sudanese communities were hired to bring culturally sensitive health messages to their communities and increase access to health care through community referrals. Because the Community Health Workers live in the communities they serve, they are able to identify community problems, eliminate cultural and language barriers, and respond creatively to local needs. In addition to reaching high risk populations with important health information, we hope to also gather feedback from the community, establish community rapport, and develop better strategies for impacting hard-to-reach populations with prevention messages and programs.

For more information, call 444-7475.