COMMUNITY HEALTH SCHOLARS ATTEND ANNUAL APHA MEETING

By Karen Pomerantz

With the support of the Consumer Health Foundation, MWPHA provided six community health workers with scholarships to attend this year's annual APHA meeting in Philadelphia. Our scholars worked this meeting from early morning until night, attending sessions, receptions, and business meetings. Scholarship recipients were Edwin Chambers, Laura Estrada, Blanca Gomez, Loretta Owens, Ed Robinson, and Lyzette Orr Ryan. Here's what they report:

"I would like to thank you for my scholarship. ... The meeting enlightened me in many ways ... As an organization we have plenty of work ahead of us ... We need to encourage more people to become more aware of the many changes that are about to take place in the healthcare community and in everyday life. FOR US AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD!!"
Ed Robinson, Family and Medical Counseling Service, Inc.

"I got first hand information on HIV stats from other parts of the country. From Maternal and Child Health, I learned how they handled the concerns they had with housing, health care, etc. What I did not understand is why the state of New Jersey was not doing more for their citizens with all the money they were taking in from Atlantic City's Gaming Programs. They must take in money in the millions each year. The best investment they could make is an investment in their citizens."
Loretta Owens, Phoenix Center, Unity Health Care, Inc.

"The APHA conference was a very exciting experience for me. I got to meet and exchange information with people who work with HIV and other health issues. I learned so much. The only regret I have was not having ... doubles so they could to one or two sessions at the same time and then retrieve the information for me. It was wonderful!"
Laura Estrada, La Clinica del Pueblo

"[I learned] more about public health, economics and community health workers as activists addressing the needs of the community and health clinics meeting the needs of the community. ... [I plan] to attend more training on the services dealing with community health workers ... [One of the emergent issues I saw] was the need for more money for health care and not for war for oil."
Edwin Chambers, Healthy Start, D. C. Department of Health

"I came back full of ideas from the APHA Conference ... the Conference was very useful and informative... I tried to attend most of the Community Health Worker (CHW) sessions and learned of the struggles and successes that CHW go through. Before the Conference, my vision of community workers was limited to the area in which I worked and lived. ..At the Conference, I learned of the variety of health issues we cover, as well as the different backgrounds and skills we bring. The common concern seemed to be that of recognition and respect. With a broader view of Public Health and Community Health Workers, I hope to be able to identify programs and workers in this area. All in all, it was a rewarding experience.... Thank you again for presenting me with this gift."
Lyzette Orr Ryan, Arlington County Department of Health.