Statewide Community Health Worker Advisory Board Announced

CHICAGO – Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck announced today the appointment of a 15-member Illinois Community Health Worker (CHW) Advisory Board. The board will advise the Governor, IDPH and the legislature on all matters impacting the effective work of CHWs across the state, including the training and certification processes.

Signed into law in August of 2014, the CHW Advisory Board is composed of eight CHWs from across the state. The remaining seven members consist of individuals representing healthcare and social services, health workforce policy and institutions of higher education. Board members include the following:

Mary Ann Abate, MS LSW
Vice President Public Policy, Rosecrane Health Network

Teresa Berumen (CHW)
Community Health Promoter, Enlace Chicago

Leticia Boughton, BA (CHW)
Network Coordinator, Chicago Community Health Worker Local Network

Monica Dillon, RN
Community/Public Health Nurse Project Manager, Loyola University School of Nursing

Christopher Garcia (CHW)
Advocate/Benefits Case Manager, Champaign County Health Care Consumers

Melissa Gutierrez Kapheim, MS
Project Director/Epidemiologist 2, Sinai Urban Health Institute

Geraldine Hardy (CHW)
Team Lead/Program Clerk, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation

Janel Hughes-Jones (CHW)
Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Will County Health Department

Estela Lazo (CHW)
Outreach Specialist, Will County Health Dept

Hong Liu, PhD
Executive Director, Midwest Asian Health Coalition

Molly Martin, MD MAPP
Associate Professor, Pediatrics and the Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago

Lizette Martinez (CHW)
Peers for Progress Coordinator, Alivio Medical Center

Tamela Milan, BA (CHW)
Maternal & Child Health Outreach, Access Community Health

Amy Sagen, BA
Assistant Director for Health Policy & Strategy, University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System

Jeffery Waddy, DrPHc, MsEd, MCHES
Dean of Allied Health and Sciences, South Suburban College

Within a year of its first meeting, the CHW Advisory Board will develop a report with its recommendations regarding the certification process of community health workers, best practices and reimbursement options. The report will also include proposed curriculums, ensuring that the content, methodology, development and delivery are appropriately based on cultural and geographic needs and reflect relevant responsibilities for CHWs.

“Illinois falls well below the national median in its use of non-physician providers. If workforce shortages are not addressed, it could limit access to services and quality health care for all Illinoisans. Community health workers can help fill this void and increase the health of the state,” said Dr. Hasbrouck.