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:

Community Health Worker 101: IPHA is hosting a Community Health Worker 101 Training with online training access starting on March 16. Live, virtual Zoom sessions will be held weekly on Tuesdays, March 24 – May 12. This training incorporates the 13 national core CHW competencies to prepare individuals to serve as CHWs. All training components are required to earn a certificate of completion!

Navigating Medicaid Enrollment for Lactation Services: IPHA is hosting a Third-Party Billing Webinar on Wednesday, March 18, 12:00 – 1:00 PM. This presentation will introduce Illinois’ Medicaid expansion, which includes lactation professionals as reimbursable providers under Public Act 102-0665. It will highlight key findings from a recent white paper developed in partnership with IPHA and walk attendees through a new billing guide created to support enrollment and implementation. Attendees will gain an understanding of the policy’s significance, what steps are required to become a Medicaid provider, and how to stay engaged as the system evolves.

Maternal and Child Health ACEs Series: Join IPHA for a webinar in the Maternal Child Health ACEs Series on Tuesday, March 24, 9:00 – 10:00 AM. Professionals at Oak Woods Counseling Center will be presenting “Generational Trauma and Youth Experiences: Parenting and Professional Approaches to Recognition, De-Escalation, and Healing." This training integrates cultural humility with generational trauma, trauma experiences of youth 8 years and older, trauma activation, and recognition of non-verbal behavioral cues. You will learn how the intersection of these is key for discernment of the youth environment, self-reflection, and necessary steps for a trauma-informed response in the medical provider, school, supportive service, and non-profit settings.

CHW Cancer 101 Program

The Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) and the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA) partnered to develop the Community Health Worker Cancer 101 program. This asynchronous program provides Community Health Workers (CHWs) with education specific to cancer prevention, screening, treatment, survivorship, and resources available. Once a CHW has completed the self-paced virtual learning sessions, they will complete a community outreach project of their choosing. Projects may include setting up a cancer outreach table, updating cancer brochures to assess health literacy, creating a cancer-focused social media campaign, developing a new cancer resource for their organization to use, etc. Pictures or copies of what was created will be submitted to IPHA. Upon review, the CHW will receive a certificate of completion.

This training was supported by grant funding from The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of CHWWorkforce Grant. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Funding for select sessions was provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

New Training Opportunity: Psychosocial Oncology Support for Community Health Workers

Community Health Workers play a vital role in supporting individuals and families navigating cancer, not only medically, but also emotionally, socially, and practically. To strengthen this work across Illinois, Wellness House is proud to offer the Psychosocial Oncology Training for Community Health Workers, a multi-module video training series made possible by the HelpGuideThrive Grant from the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA).

Grounded in more than 30 years of evidence-based survivorship programming, this on-demand curriculum provides practical, research-informed guidance on key topics including psychosocial oncology fundamentals, nutrition and cancer, the role of exercise in cancer care, stress management, social and emotional support, and how cancer impacts the whole family.

Each module is presented by Wellness House experts and includes actionable tools, reflection prompts, and strategies that Community Health Workers can immediately apply in their work to enhance the quality of support they provide to cancer-affected individuals and communities.

This free training is available statewide and can be completed at your own pace.

At the beginning of the month, IPHA launched their learning management system, IPHA Academy. IPHA Academy is a library of public health training courses, webinars, and other learning resources. We invite you to explore the various public health learning categories. Our learning resources are crafted to give you the tools, knowledge, and confidence to excel in today’s public health environment. We welcome you to join our community of innovators, learners, and leaders. You are guaranteed to find a session that benefits you and your work in public health!

Past CHW Lunch & Learns and CHW Upskillings, along with many other trainings and webinars, are available now on IPHA Academy. Click here to learn more and view instructions for creating an account and navigating the system. Create your account today!

The Greater Chicago Food Depository

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, started with one purpose – to nourish their neighbors at risk of hunger. And as the needs of their neighbors have evolved, so have they. The Food Depository’s work against hunger has expanded to address the issues that cause food insecurity and poverty.

Their mission is to end hunger. To achieve that mission, they work in partnership with a network of community-based organizations and individuals. Together, they connect neighbors with healthy food, lift voices, and advance solutions that address the root causes of hunger.

Important Changes to SNAP Benefits. Take Action Now!

The federal government passed a new law that makes significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Link in Illinois. Below are important messages for SNAP recipients so they don’t lose their food and grocery benefits:

1. Update your information: Report any changes in your income or changes to your household to the Illinois Department of Human Services.
2. Review work requirements: Find out if you need to be connected to a job, volunteer opportunity or education & training program for at least 80 hours per month. If you qualify for an exemption, apply for one.
3. Stay informed! Get the latest updates and share this information with family and friends.

Urge your neighbors not to wait until their benefits stop. Take action today!

No one should go hungry because of paperwork. If you are interested in learning more about these changes, how to assist those you serve, receiving additional training, or joining a collective of organizations in Cook County collaborating to connect neighbors with resources to meet their basic needs, visit the Greater Chicago Food Depository partnership inquiry form to join the movement. Together, we are greater. Together, we can end hunger.

Depository partnership inquiry form to join the movement. Together, we are greater. Together, we can end hunger.

Maleah Mays and The Little Resource Center

Maleah Mays is a college student, personal assistant, and Community Health Worker (CHW) with The Little Resource Center in Carbondale. She is responsible for a lot; however, she is focused and ensures she does each job to the best of her ability. She is a hard worker and has a passion to grow her community in any way that she can.

The Litter Resource Center aims to aid in the support of mothers and babies in the Southern Illinois area. CHWs are imperative to the project as they add a deeper focus to the community. As well as the ability to form relationships that result in resources between organizations and clients alike. The Little Resource Center bridges the gap between mothers and CHWs. It is a hub for Doulas that has only grown by adding partnerships with CHWs.

Maleah says, “As a Community Health Worker, I have been working closely with others to form a bond of trust so we can complete goals that further quality of life. Such as obtaining important documents, helping with childcare, and moral support.”

ICC Strengthens Community Health Worker Program Following Learner Feedback from Pilot Cohort

Illinois Central College (ICC) is enhancing its Community Health Worker (CHW) Program following valuable feedback from learners who participated in the pilot course offering. The updated program reflects ICC’s commitment to continuous improvement, workforce alignment, and learner-centered design, ensuring future cohorts are well prepared for the realities of Community Health Worker practice.

With funding support from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), ICC expanded the CHW program into a comprehensive 100-hour training, offered at no cost to learners, with scheduled cohorts in Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Fall 2026. The pilot cohort launched in Fall 2025 and was facilitated by Dr. Leah Grebner, Dr. Courtney Gehrig, and Kelsey Bartlow, MPH.

Pilot Cohort Overview

The pilot program was delivered over two eight-week sessions between August 18 and December 12, 2025. Fieldwork began on December 9, 2025, with learners encouraged to complete their required hours by the end of January if working full-time. According to proposed administrative rules currently under review, learners have until December 9, 2026 to complete fieldwork.

The cohort included 17 enrolled learners, with 11 completers. IPHA partnered with ICC to assist in securing fieldwork placements with respected healthcare and community partners, including the Children’s Hospital of Illinois, OSF HealthCare, Illinois Public Health Association, Advanced Medical Transport, Alzheimer’s Association of Chicago, and Under The Helmet, an Illinois Community-Based Organization.

What Learners Shared—and How ICC Responded

Feedback from the pilot cohort highlighted the program’s strengths while also identifying opportunities for improvement. Learners reported that the training was highly applicable to real-world CHW work, comprehensive in covering all CHW core competencies, and provided opportunities to grow individual and group facilitation skills.

Based on learner input, ICC identified several areas for enhancement in future cohorts. These improvements include:

• Clearer communication of program rigor, including attendance expectations, assignments, and project requirements
• Improved Canvas LMS training and course design, ensuring a more consistent and user-friendly learning experience
• Better explanation of assignments and the portfolio project to reduce unnecessary time burden
• Greater consistency across assignments and project expectations

“These insights have been invaluable,” said ICC program leaders. “The pilot cohort helped us refine not only the content, but also how we communicate expectations and support learners throughout the training.”

Enhanced Learning Experiences and New Content

The pilot cohort also benefited from several high-impact learning experiences, including a simulated participant interview process in contract with Jump Training Center. Learners earned both a Trauma-Informed Care Certificate and Mental Health First Aid Certificate, strengthening their readiness for community-based work.

Building on learner feedback and workforce needs, ICC is expanding the curriculum to include increased content on current CHW advocacy and policymaking, re-entry support for individuals leaving incarceration, expanded coverage of chronic health conditions, reinforcement of Trauma-Informed Care principles, and integration of patient interview concepts and skills across all learning modules. Lastly, we will have a section dedicated to self-care and resilience for Community Health Workers.

Looking Ahead: Next Cohort and Long-Term Vision

The next CHW training cohort begins Monday, January 26, and ends May 15, 2026.  We are ecstatic to announce that we have 28 learners enrolled in this credential training!

Looking to the future, ICC is actively working to build a sustainable CHW program that is not solely reliant on grant funding, explore integration into Workforce Pell programming, and assess opportunities to develop a CHW apprenticeship model, leveraging ICC’s robust apprenticeship infrastructure.

Through intentional refinement and strong community partnerships, ICC’s Community Health Worker Program is evolving into a rigorous, responsive, and impactful pathway—one shaped directly by the voices of its learners and the needs of the communities they will serve.

Community Health Worker Highlight

Leanna M. Auguste, CHW

Leanna is a graduate of the Illinois Central College Community Health Worker Program. She currently lives and works in Illinois, primarily in the Rockford area. Since entering the workforce, Leanna has worked in community-focused and healthcare-adjacent roles that emphasize support, coordination, and advocacy. Her experience includes patient outreach, care coordination, addressing social determinants of health, and serving as a bridge between individuals and healthcare systems. Much of her work is centered around helping people navigate resources, technology, and care processes in a practical and compassionate way.

Leanna was interested in taking the CHW course because the role closely aligned with work she was already doing informally and professionally. She wanted a stronger foundation, formal training, and a clearer understanding of best practices so she could serve her community more effectively and with greater confidence. Personally, the course improved her understanding of boundaries, communication, and the importance of meeting people where they are. Professionally, it strengthened her skills in documentation, advocacy, ethical practice, and resource navigation. It also provided language and structure for her work, which helped her feel more grounded and intentional in her role.

“Being a CHW is meaningful work that requires patience, discernment, and empathy. The field plays an important role in closing gaps within healthcare and supporting communities in ways that are often unseen but deeply impactful. I believe CHWs bring a human, relational element to systems that truly need it.” - Leanna

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.