Community Health Worker Initiative

Archived Information

Healthy Start has developed a unique and highly effective community health outreach and education component through our Community Health Worker Initiative.

Healthy Start CHWs are trained lay health educators who, annually, provide thousands of individuals throughout Manatee County with culturally and linguistically competent education, follow up support, and patient navigation assistance on a variety of health topics that disproportionately impact our underserved communities such as cardiovascular health, breast and colorectal cancers, HIV, and tobacco prevention, among others; as well as maternal infant health education related to breastfeeding, interconceptional health care, and infant safe sleeping/SIDS prevention.

Since its inception 10 years ago, the Coalition’s CHW initiative has achieved demonstrated impact through documented evaluation. Most recently, in 2012, Healthy Start’s initiative was one of only five CHW programs statewide selected by the University of Florida (UF) to participate in a CHW effectiveness demonstration project.