The Vermont Community Health Worker (CHW) Workforce Initiative, a health equity driven statewide project led by Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center (91��Ƭ) announces the selection of a diverse Leadership team of Community Health Workers (CHWs) to advance the CHW profession across Vermont communities.

The team of nine (9) health care and community leaders will serve on the leadership team of the VT CHW Alliance, an independent coalition of CHWs and CHW allies and organizations formed in December 2022, to organize and establish the first member-led professional association in Vermont.

The Leadership Team is collaborating with other CHWs to unify their voices regardless of job title or work setting, to promote a common professional identity by forming the first member-led professional association in Vermont. Katina Cummings, Southern Vermont 91��Ƭ CHW Project Director explained, “This diverse and dedicated group of CHW leaders is making history, and through a sustainable organization, will be empowered to promote uniform competency-based trainings for this essential workforce and employers.  The leadership team will collaborate with their colleagues and allies to further strengthen their profession through advocacy, networking, and professional development.”

The VT Community Health Worker Leadership Team represents a cross-section of organizations and counties throughout Vermont.

• Pam Dube, Community Health Worker, Little Rivers Health Care (Orange County)
• Jen LeFebre, Community Health Worker, UVM Extension-Migrant Health (Bennington, Rutland, Windham and Windsor Counties)
• Debbie Locke-Rousseau, Community Health Team Lead/Supervisor, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (Caledonia County)
• Maryan Maalin, Family Strengthening Worker, The Janet S. Munt Family Room, Parent Child Center (Chittenden County)
• Lindsy Mack, Care Coordination Team Lead, Health Care & Rehabilitation Services (Windham and Windsor Counties)
• Amanda Reid, Community Health Worker, St Albans Health Center-Notch (Franklin County)
• Teresa Robert, Community Health Worker, St. Albans Primary Care-Primary Health Partners (Franklin County)
• Maddie Ruth, Community Health Worker, Longitudinal Care Program, UVM Health Network, 91��Ƭ Health & Hospice (Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties)
• Donna Toneatti, Community Health Worker, Abenaki (Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille and Rutland Counties)

CHWs foster trust to bridge health and social services with individuals and their communities, enhancing access and service quality. They improve self-sufficiency, wellbeing and community capacity and are employed nationwide in various sectors. Over six decades of research confirms their effectiveness, notably in managing chronic diseases, and improving health in rural and underserved regions and among historically marginalized populations, thereby averting costly hospitalizations.

If you have any questions or would like more information on the Vermont CHW Workforce Initiative, go to /community-health-worker or contact Katina Cummings, Project Director, kcummings@svtahec.org, 802.355.1051.