Prevention and Early Intervention: Community Health Workers

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

The Community Health Workers (CHW) program is a Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) prevention program designed to address the needs of the County of San Bernardino’s culturally diverse African American, Latino and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning (LGBTQ) communities. The program aims to increase awareness of mental health, prevent mental illness and connect folks to community-based prevention and/or behavioral health services without fear of discrimination or stigma.Community members are recruited and trained to become CHWs. The CHWs deliver educational presentations to community and faith based organizations and school groups such as the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Presentations are made to smaller groups, families or individuals for the purpose of facilitating a discussion on specific behavioral health topics covered in the outreach presentation. The curriculum was developed by community members for the identified underserved population through community based contracted agencies. Topics include Alcohol and Drug Identification and Prevention, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia, Depressive Disorder, How to Communicate Effectively, Introduction to Mental Health and Mental Illnesses, Leadership and Community Access Strategies, and Personal Motivation and Self-Esteem.Pre and post test results show an increase in mental health awareness. Stakeholders have asked for more community health workers.