UNITY 2014--the National CHW Conference Announces Special Open Forum with Representatives of the US Department of Health and Human Services CHW Interagency Workgroup

BALTIMORE, April 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leaders from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Community Health Worker (CHW) Interagency Workgroup will facilitate "Open Forum: We're Listening!" on Friday May 23 from 9:00 to 10:30 am as a featured session at UNITY 2014—the National CHW Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. As part of the rapidly changing health care environment, there is greater acknowledgment of the important role of community health workers in health and social service delivery systems and the HHS CHW Interagency Workgroup is focused on learning more from the CHW community. This open forum will provide an opportunity for HHS staff to exchange thoughts and ideas with community health workers about where the CHW field is headed in both the short and long term to build the basis for future programs and policies related to CHW training, scope of practice, and experience working within community teams. This input is critical to ensuring HHS is responsive to the needs of the CHW field as it considers its current and future commitment to this growing workforce.

Heidi Christensen, HHS Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, will facilitate the open forum. She will be joined on the panel by Cindy Phillips of the Health Resources Services Administration; Mayra Alvarez of the Office of Minority Health; Lindsey Wilde of the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services; and other members of the HHS CHW Workgroup.

UNITY 2014 is the only national conference for and by CHWs and is set for May 20-23, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland at the Inner Harbor Hyatt. The event is co-sponsored by the Center for Sustainable Health Outreach (CSHO), Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care, Central Massachusetts AHEC, Inc., and Community Resources, LLC. Go to www.populationhealthcenter.org/chwln to register on-line and review the preliminary program. Please reserve rooms at the Inner Harbor Hyatt, go to: https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_gi_new&groupID=22196467 in order to get special room rates on a space available basis.

Regular conference registration fees are in effect through May 1, 2014 after which they will increase, so register now!

SOURCE Delmarva Foundation