Health Impact Ohio Graduates Fifth Cohort of Community Health Workers
By: Brittany Daniels, Director of Operations & Communications, Health Impact Ohio
Health Impact Ohio is proud to announce the graduation of the fifth cohort from the Central Ohio Pathways HUB Community Health Worker Certification Program. The program is created and led by Health Impact Ohio’s Chief Education and Equity Officer, Dr. Tanikka Price, along with collaboration from Alicia Moxley, Health Impact Ohio’s new Director of Education and Community Engagement. Since the fall of 2022, the program’s reach has expanded to include participants from across the state of Ohio, including a self-paced cohort, as well as the inclusion of local high school students from the Central Ohio area.
Recent program participants graduated at the end of May, wrapping up the end of their online program with an in-person graduation that included CPR training and the opportunity to have professional headshots taken. Graduates also heard remarks from Franklin County Health Commissioner Joe Mazzola. We appreciate the continued support and sponsorship of the program from our partners at Franklin County Public Health and the Ohio Department of Education. Special thanks to the certification program nursing instructor Melinda Miranda, LPN, BSN, and guest speaker, Devon Abdon, from Franklin County Public Health.
Class Demographics:
The cohort included a total of 35 graduates, with four of those graduates being high school students. Of the 35 participants, 28 identified as female and seven as male. Twenty-one participants identified their race as Black or African American, eight as white, three as Asian/Indian, one as Guamanian, one as multi-ethnic, and one as Afro Latino. Graduates also came from a variety of backgrounds, including:
Joseph and Mary's Home
Community Action Akron Summit
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Franklin County Public Health
Lowe's and Liberian's In Columbus INC.
Unemployed
Volunteer
Student
Equitas Health
Pregnant with Possibilities
Self-employed
Sisters of Charity
Stark Community Support Network
Americorp
Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority
OhioHealth
Friends of the Homeless of Tuscarawas County
Greenleaf Family Services
Stark County Job and Family Services
Cleveland Clinic Akron General
Graduation Highlights:
Health Impact Ohio was excited to highlight all of our outstanding graduates on their special day. Awards were also presented to the following graduates:
Valedictorian: Egondu Onyejekwe
Mark Redding Courage Award: Rebecca Duran
Shatana Johnson Spirit Award: Sierra White
Bending the Arc Award: E'Shaunti Barnett
Participation Award: Ineka Davis
Presentation Award: Trisha Meeks
All Teach, All Learn Award: Panther Spurlin
Perfect Attendance: Aleah Reed, Rebecca Duran, Darlene Hayes, Egondu Onyejekwe, Emma Singleton, Lottie Elder, Panther Spurlin, Patrick Allen, Rebecca Duplain, Sherricka Scroggins, Sierra White, Migeal Reese, Tessa Hess
We enjoyed celebrating our participants' successful completion of the Community Health Worker Certification Program in-person with their loved ones. Each participant left with the tools needed to obtain their Community Health Worker license through the Ohio Board of Nursing, and we look forward to continuing to support our cohort graduates as they progress through their careers or begin new ones.
Looking Ahead 2023:
Currently, Health Impact Ohio is in the process of conducting our first Summer Accelerator Program for high school students. This program allows high school juniors and seniors interested in serving their community to attend an accelerated-pace Community Health Worker Certification Program while school is out of session. The first Summer Accelerator Program ends July 21st, and the second offering of the Summer Accelerator Program begins July 24th.
To learn more about the Central Ohio Pathways HUB Community Health Worker Program, see our website: https://www.healthimpactohio.org/chw-certification-program.