Lunch & Learns

Joining a Lunch & Learn is a great way to stay up to date and connected on how Community Health Workers (CHWs) can be empowered to provide care in their communities. Registration is required for all Lunch & Learns. Register for the sessions that you would like to attend using the links below. You will receive the Zoom link upon registration. You can earn a certificate for one hour of attendance by attending a Lunch & Learn and completing the post-Lunch & Learn evaluation.

Other Events and Trainings:

September 23, 2026 – November 11, 2026: IPHA is hosting a Community Health Worker 101 Training. This training incorporates the 13 national core CHW competencies to prepare individuals to serve as CHWs. All training components (Part 1 and Part 2) are required to earn a certificate of completion.

Part 1 - 100 Training Hours

• 30 Hours - Live, virtual Zoom sessions
• 70 Hours - Self-paced online training

Part 2 - 80 Hours Field Experience

National Community Health Worker Awareness Week 

Last week, August 24 – 28, was National Community Health Worker Awareness Week. IPHA celebrated CHW Awareness Week by honoring the vital contributions of CHWs and highlighting the meaningful impact they have on individuals, families, and communities across Illinois. Throughout the week, IPHA recognized the dedication, knowledge, and lived experiences that CHWs bring to their work every day through highlights of CHWs across the state as well as our CHW award winners for the IPHA 85th Annual Public Health Workforce Conference.

CHW Awareness Week ended with a webinar titled “Voices of the CHW Workforce: Stories, Impact and Inspiration.” More than 50 attendees joined the virtual event for an opportunity to hear directly from CHWs about their personal journeys, experiences in the workforce, and the impact their work has had on their lives. Elsy Ayala, Amanda McKinley, and Hannah Garrett shared the pathways that led them to their role as a CHW and what they think the CHW workforce means to their community.

The webinar created a space for CHWs to share their stories in their own voices—highlighting not only the difference they make for the people they serve, but also how being a CHW has influenced their own lives, personal growth, and sense of purpose.

IPHA is proud to continue supporting and elevating the CHW workforce and to recognize the individuals whose experiences, dedication, and commitment strengthen communities across Illinois.

Thank you to all of the CHWs, partners, and attendees who helped make CHW Awareness Week a meaningful celebration of the workforce and the people behind the work.

Tracey Smith, Associate Executive Director for Public Health Practice with the Illinois Public Health Association, shared a message at the start of the week, extended to all Illinois Community Health Workers.

“In recognition of Community Health Worker Awareness Week, the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA) proudly celebrates and thanks the dedicated Community Health Workers across Illinois whose commitment, compassion, and service strengthen the health and well-being of our communities every day.

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for the extraordinary work you do to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities you serve. As trusted messengers, advocates, educators, and connectors, you help bridge gaps in care, strengthen relationships, and ensure that people have access to the resources and support they need to thrive.

The care, purpose, and service you bring to your work make a profound difference in the lives of countless Illinois residents. Whether you are helping a family navigate health services, supporting community members through challenges, promoting health equity, or building trust where it is needed most, your impact is felt far beyond any single interaction.

This week and beyond, we celebrate your achievements and recognize the vital role you play in advancing public health throughout our state. Public health moves forward when communities are reached with trust, and your work makes that trust real every day. Your efforts help create healthier, stronger, and more resilient communities across Illinois.” - Tracey Smith, CHW, DNP, PHCNS-BC, MS

The work and recognition do not end with the week. Honoring, supporting, and advocating for CHWs continues throughout the year. The CHW Awareness Week toolkit by the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW) remains available as a resource for talking points, social media content, and guidance on reaching out to legislators to advance policies that respect, protect, and authentically partner with CHWs and their communities: https://nachw.org/nchwaw/?mc_cid=8d77723d58&mc_eid=a60368f67c.

The LES Turner ALS Foundation

The Les Turner ALS Foundation was founded in 1977 by the family and friends of Les Turner, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 36.  Their mission is to provide the most comprehensive care and support to people living with ALS and their families so they can confidently navigate the disease, and advance scientific research for the prevention, treatment, and cure of ALS. The Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine is led by the most well-respected scientists and clinicians in the field, advancing research into causes, treatment, and cures for the disease.

In 2024, Les Turner partnered with IPHA and the HAP Foundation to provide upskilling training for CHWs focusing on identification of signs and symptoms of ALS, health disparities in ALS, and the important role CHWs can play in connecting families to multidisciplinary ALS clinics in Illinois and ALS foundations that can provide additional support.  Since implementation, over 70 CHWs have been educated and trained across the state of Illinois.

In December 2026, the Les Turner ALS Foundation will be presenting on the CHW training program at the International Alliance of ALS/MND Association annual meeting in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  The presentation entitled “Training Community Health Workers to Recognize ALS/MND: A Hybrid Education Model to Support Early Identification and Navigation of Care” will cover the development and pilot of a hybrid CHW training program reaching communities across Illinois.  They will share the program model, early lessons, and how this work supports broader efforts to reduce diagnostic delays of ALS and reach underserved communities.

Anne Marie Doyle with the Les Turner ALS Foundation will be presenting a CHW Lunch and Learn on September 18, 12:00 – 1:00 PM, titled Speech-Language Pathology Essentials for Community Health Workers. Click here to learn more and register.

For more information on the Les Turner ALS Foundation, visit their website or email education@lesturnerals.org.

ILCHWA Chicago Summit

Join the Illinois Community Health Workers Association (ILCHWA) for their 2026 Annual Chicago Summit on October 16, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM CT. CHWs, employers, and others are invited for a day of networking, information sharing, knowledge, and ending with a social gathering. Bring your dancing shoes!

This year, sessions will cover:

• CHW Certification and Reimbursement update
• Men’s Health Session
• Preservation of CHWs in the AI space... and more
• Network with CHWs, Employers, Allies, and
• Vendors

Click here to learn more and register.

 Have a safe month,

Tracey Smith, Associate Executive Director for Public Health Practice at IPHA, Director of the CHW Capacity Building Center and Claire Hughes, IPHA Program Manager.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. 

We strive to keep CHWs, their employers, educators, and allies informed and connected. If you would like to contribute information for a future newsletter, please contact Mariah Menietti at mmenietti@ipha.com. We look forward to showcasing ways in which CHWs are making an impact in Illinois.