Celebrating Community Health Workers Day
On April 8, 2019, citizens across Texas commemorated Community Health Worker Day, as proclaimed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The observance celebrates the efforts of Community Health Workers who conduct outreach and health education, provide support for clients and patients and advocate for reducing disparities in health care. It is a gratifying and humbling feeling to be honored for doing the work we love each and every day. As community health workers at Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., we are especially proud that the work we do helps our organization fulfill its vision.
Working with Methodist Healthcare Ministries as community health workers is an incredible learning experience that provides us with opportunities to expand and grow professionally through various trainings and professional development. These opportunities and trainings provided through MHM helps refine our skills and sharpen our knowledge. We feel very blessed to work for a wonderful organization, full of amazing people that enables and encourages its employees to continually improve themselves and develop as professionals.
In 2012, three of us started working at Methodist Healthcare Ministries as part of a pilot program where we worked on a part-time basis. Today, our team has grown to include six Community Health Workers; four based here in San Antonio, one in Corpus Christi and one in San Angelo. As a team, we have grown in our capabilities through our experience in the field. We have seen the impact we can achieve working out amongst the community, rather than just in our offices. We are able to better reach out to the people and meet them face-to-face and see the needs in the community firsthand.
Moreover, we are more productive and able to accomplish much more working in the field as a team. We network with other Community Health Workers, and other community members, doing the same type of work we do to better the community. We conduct outreach through our neighborhoods and at health fairs to reach the uninsured and overlooked. We visit with people in need of resources or who just need to speak to someone about what is going on in their lives. We are there to listen and do our very best to help with their needs.
Being a Community Health Worker with Methodist Healthcare Ministries is absolutely a true blessing and we are grateful to work for such an amazing organization. We have found a place where we can make a difference in people’s lives. Our job is to serve others and offer peace of mind and words of encouragement. To give hope that tomorrow will be a better day!!!
