With funding from the Connecticut Health Foundation, the YWCA of New Britain will work to build a local pipeline of community health workers by developing a course for high school and college students interested in serving as frontline health workers.
The $100,000 grant will help the YWCA of New Britain expand its community health worker (CHW) training program into a 6-credit dual enrollment course at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). The goal is to introduce career opportunities to high school students and connect them to paid internship and apprenticeship positions required for CHW certification. The YWCA of New Britain aims to have the curriculum offered at CCSU by 2025.
Youth of color in New Britain face health and educational disparities. They will be engaged in the creation of the course and will also be encouraged to use their voices to advocate for systems change. The training program will help create a pathway for a career as a community health worker or in other public health professions.
Widely recognized as one of the best tools for advancing health equity, community health workers have a deep understanding of the communities they serve. The Connecticut Health Foundation’s 2024-2028 strategic plan includes ensuring that these services are more widely available and sustainably funded.