Community Health Workers Association of Connecticut

For more information contact: Millie Seguinot, Association President

mseguinot@swctahec.org Phone w. 203-372-5503 x 13 c. 203-338-1291

 

AssociationOverview

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“We are CHWs”We are the statewide professional association for Community Health Workers in Connecticut.

We are CHWs who go by many job titles and work in a variety of work settings or programs, and we are CHW supervisors, allies and advocates.

CHW Association of Connecticut

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Association Mission

“To advance the CHW workforce through policy, education, research and

leadership”

Association Activities

• Provide information, education and capacity-building for CHWs, employers and community members

• Offer networking and professional development opportunities for CHWs

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Association Activities

• Collect and share current data impacting the Community Health Worker workforce in CT, New England and the U.S.

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• Influence CHW-related policymaking and advocate for a strong, sustainable CHW workforce in CT

Association History - Timeline2012 Association formation begins at the New England Regional CHW Summit

(Volunteer) Association Board of Directors forms and President is appointed

Association planning progresses with leadership from the Board of Directors, CHWs, CHW champions and community supporters

2014 Association Mission and Core Values created with support from the CHW New York Network www.chwnetwork.org and CT Health Foundation funds www.cthealth.org

2015 Association marketing and public awareness materials created with support from the Center for Health Impact www.centerforhealthimpact.org and CT State Innovation Model (SIM) funds www.healthreform.ct.gov

2015 Association becomes a Section of the CT Public Health Association www.cpha.info

2016 Association President and Vice President appointed to CT SIM CHW Advisory Committee, to develop recommendations for the Healthcare Innovation Steering Committee about CHW training, promotion, utilization, certification and sustainable payment models for CHW compensation.

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Connecticut Public Health Association

CHW Association of Connecticut

Board of Directors

CHWs

Association Structure

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Milagrosa “Millie” Seguinot, President

Millie is a founding member of the Association and the President of its Board of Directors. Millie has extensive experience supporting multicultural, diverse populations in the areas of mutual housing, education, parenting and parent leadership. She is employed as the CHW Project Coordinator at SW Area Health Education Center, teaches CHW core-competency training, and as a CHW, helps connect Bridgeport mothers with medical homes and immunizations for their children. In the recent past, Millie was Navigator Key Staff for Access Health CT, helping residents enroll in insurance plans. Millie is a Notary Public and former Justice of the Peace. She has an A.A. degree in Secretarial Science from the University of Puerto Rico and has studied business applications at Goodwin College.

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Loretta D. EbronVice President

For nearly 20 years, Loretta has served lower-income residents of southwestern Connecticut through advocacy, education, and by connecting them with services in their communities. As a Senior Community Health Worker at Optimus Health Care, Loretta assists in overseeing a staff of four Certified Application Counselors, one SNAP outreach worker and one AmeriCorps member. She also helps families enroll in Access Health CT and works as a School Based Health Center worker at two local high schools and seven elementary schools. Since August 2014, Loretta has been a CHW instructor at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport.

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Elena PadinSecretary

Elena is dedicated to improving the lives of her fellow residents. After beginning her career as a receptionist for the Commission in Human Rights and Opportunities, Elena worked for 15 years at Christopher Shays, providing case management and outreach to the 4th congressional district. She is currently employed as an Outreach Worker for Southwest Community Health Center to assist children and families at School-Based Health Centers. Elena is a Board member for The Greater Bridgeport OIC and member of Knights of Columbus Columbiette Auxiliary #2616. Elena was recently awarded the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) Connecticut Chapter Award for her leadership and significant contributions to the success of the NAHN.

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Moraima HernandezTreasurer

Moraima “Mory” Hernandez is the Treasurer of the CHWACT. She works for BCAC (Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition) as a CHW and a CAC (Certified Application Counselor).

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Maria Millan Assistant Treasurer

Maria Millan is a CHW and Human Services Professional with progressive experience in outreach, health education and case management. Maria has a passion for advocating on behalf of individual and community needs. During her 16 years of work for the City of Stamford, Maria has completed numerous trainings and certificates and has worked extensively with multicultural, diverse and underserved populations to enhance quality of life. Maria has expertise in Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Qualified Health Plans (Access Heath CT), Welfare to Work Programs, Medicare and Case Management, and is fluent in Spanish, Galician and conversational Portuguese.

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Jacqueline has been a CHW for 7 years. She is very passionate about her community and its challenges, and strives towards bridging the gaps to healthcare and other community services. Jacqueline is a member of the CHW Association of CT, the CT Public Health Association CHW Section and the Multi-Cultural Health Network. She is also a Health Equity Fellow with the CT Health Foundation and a member of the New England Coalition of CHWs. She recently served as a member of the Consumer Advisory Board and the SIM CHW Advisory Board. Nationally, she belongs to the APHA CHW Section, where she chairs the Nominations Committee and participates on the Community Health and Policy Committee. She is involved in the CHW Common Core (C3) Project, a national study that is working on a contemporary list of the Scope of Practice for the CHW workforce. She is a Co-Fellow on this project and Chair’s an Advisory Committee of CHWs and CHW Association’s from across the country.

Jacqueline Ortiz Miller