Trainings through King County CHW-CARE are designed and led by seasoned CHWs within the partner organizations. Partner organizations include, Public Health Seattle & King County, Center for Multi-Cultural Health, Global to Local, International Community Health Services, Healthier-Here, Healthy King County Coalition, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. CHWs come from a combination of community based, clinic, and home visiting programs.
Leadership
Deborah Drake Vassar, I work for Center for Multicultural Health as a CHW. I have been working in Social Services for about 15 years with an emphasis on Healthcare and Advocacy for Low Income and People of Color. I graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Accounting and Business Administration. I enjoy my job and I take great pride on serving the clients I served. I have the great privilege to work with DOH and currently work on three Leadership committees developing Leadership skills for myself and participating in creating new training opportunities for CHWs in education, job development and career recognition. In my spare time, the fun things I like to do is playing card games with my grandchildren and BEATING THEM!! I love to cook and create new dishes with my family. I love life with my family and friends.
Janelle Okorogu, received her B.S. from Oakwood University in Alabama and her M.S. degree in Microbiology from Alabama A&M University. She furthered her studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she received her MPH in Epidemiology. Janelle is currently the program director at the Center for Multicultural Health where she builds community capacity and helps implement culturally appropriate strategies aimed at reducing health disparities in Black / African American communities. Janelle is the co-creator of the Fight the Power of Tobacco a Cessation Toolkit and the Soul Food Resource Guide. Both have been adopted by local community based and faith-based organizations that are making policy systems and environmental changes within their organizations.
Lara Sim, CBS, CHW. Director of Community Health at Seattle Children’s. One thing that is important about community health work that I love and appreciate is the ability and privilege to amplify the voices of our patient families. It is their experience(s) that shape how we do our work and make it better every day.
CHW CARE Cohort
The CHW CARE cohort consists of 200+ Community Health Workers representing over 60 organizations. The organizations below have had Community Health Workers participate in at least one CHW CARE workshop:
