The AlamoPromise message is now spreading faster in the community it can benefit the most thanks to Northwest Vista College’s Community Health Worker program.
After attending the AlamoPromise information session on Sept. 25, Guadalupe Cornejo and Dr. Fernando Martinez of NVC’s CWH program, realized they needed to equip community health worker students and community health workers with the AlamoPromise knowledge. Many of NVC’s Community Health Workers (CHWs) either already work or live on the West Side and many speak fluent Spanish to easily talk with families about the benefits AlamoPromise.
“What we are doing is going out to the community and talking about the CHW program, health and wellness topics, and AlamoPromise,” Guadalupe added. “As we talk about improving quality of life, we make emphasis on the role education plays in attaining training, certification and college degrees that will lead to better paying jobs and ultimately greater health and quality of life.”
AlamoPromise, which was started by the city and county in partnership with Alamo Colleges, provides funding for financial aid students who need help paying for extra costs that aid doesn’t provide. The goal is to get more economically disadvantage high school students in college.
Community health workers have been encouraged to share information with their clients and patients while conducting their work in the community.
In October, Dr. Martinez hosted a continuing education workshop for Certified Community Health Workers and CHW students at Christus Healthcare’s Goldsbury Center for Children and Families. One of the guest speakers was Diego R. Mancha Dominguez, an NVC certified advisor, who provided an overview of AlamoPromise and AlamoBridge to approximately 70 CHWs.
On Nov. 6, a CHW student intern, Chelcie Salas, joined Guadalupe at a meeting with the Westside Education and Training Center Advisory Board where Stephanie Vasquez, AlamoPromise chief program officer, gave a presentation to all attendees. Since then, both Guadalupe and Chelcie participated at Lanier High School Fall Festival on Nov. 8 where they had direct access to high school seniors and their parents. They also gave a Spanish presentation at My Healthy Child class, a program with Methodist Healthcare Ministries on Nov. 12 where they had a group of 10 parents.
On Nov. 27, Guadalupe will be leading a group of CHWs and students who will volunteer at a food distribution event at Sacred Heart Senior Center on the West Side where she plans to talk with families and provide them with information about AlamoPromise.
