FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 24, 2023
For More Information, Contact:
Communications Director Taya Jarman, APR
202-747-3541 [email protected]
Largo, MD — The Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) is pleased to announce that its Community Health Worker (CHW) Core Skills Training Program is accredited by the Maryland Department of Health. The CHW training program increases access to care, improves public health emergency response, and addresses under-resourced communities’ unmet needs by enhancing CHWs’ skills and knowledge. CHWs are frontline public health workers who are trusted members of their communities. Through shared experiences of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or other attributes, CHWs work to connect individuals and families to essential health and social resources.
IPHI completed a rigorous review process that validated its long-standing training program and outlined training objectives. The CHW Core Skills Training Program was approved by Maryland Secretary of Health Laura Herrera Scott, MD, MPH and Maryland Department of Health Office of Population Health Improvement Director Kimberly Hiner. The training program was also vetted by The Maryland CHW Training Accreditation Program Review Committee. This designation is effective for three years.
“This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of our team in developing and refining a top-notch comprehensive training program over the past 12 years,” said IPHI President and CEO Michael E. Rhein. “First and foremost, we have always followed best practices in adult learning and listened to our trainees regarding what’s most effective in helping them learn and prepare for the CHW profession.” The Maryland Department of Health accreditation is the second IPHI accreditation. IPHI was first accredited by the Virginia Department of Health in 2022. Since 2011, IPHI has trained 1,150 CHWs, mostly CHWs living and working throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
Dwyan Monroe, IPHI Program Coordinator said, “We are committed to training and empowering the next generation of community health workers.” The CHW Core Skills Training Program is just one of the many initiatives IPHI has undertaken to build a healthier and more resilient community. Monroe added, “We are assured that this designation will further validate our training program. Trained CHWs will improve confidence when hiring and integrating CHWs in local organizations. This will improve health outcomes in the community, which is a win for our region.”
For more information on IPHI’s latest focus areas, services, and initiatives, visit www.institutephi.org.
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About Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI)
IPHI develops multi-sector partnerships and innovative solutions to improve the public’s health and well-being across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. IPHI’s work strengthens health systems and policy, enhances conditions that promote health, and builds community capacity to ensure equitable health opportunities. Nationally, IPHI is one of over 40 public health institutes and a member of the National Network of Public Health Institutes. For more information about IPHI, visit: www.institutephi.org and follow IPHI on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram | @InstitutePHI.