Community Health Worker Expansion Program
August 2022 - July 2023
Community Health Workers
Community health workers build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy. With roots in the communities they serve, community health workers play a valuable role in connecting underserved populations to the health and social services they need.
“One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.”
-Lewis Carol
About the Community Health Worker Expansion Program
In August 2022, West Central Alabama AHEC received funding to expand its current Community Health Worker (CHW) program that was initiated under the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program- (Implementation II), where community health workers were recruited, trained and deployed in service area healthcare facilities to help bridge the gap between healthcare providers and community members while increasing SUD/OUD referrals.
The expansion of this program includes the recruitment, training, and deployment of four additional community health workers covering four of RCORP’s six southwest Alabama counties. These CHWs will serve as important advocates for underserved and vulnerable individuals, help to increase outcomes for at-risk individuals and their families by offering screening and referral services outside of traditional healthcare facilities, and link together resources for the betterment of the rural areas of Clarke, Choctaw, Marengo, and Sumter counties. CHWs will assist in creating informal safety nets between non-clinical and clinical outcomes as they will address social determinants of health to assist in reducing health disparities for vulnerable individuals across the project’s four county service area.
Program Funding
Funding for this community health worker expansion program was made possible as part of the $8 million that U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell secured in the Fiscal Year 2022 government funding package for community projects in Alabama’s 7th Congressional District.
This community health worker expansion program is a good use of taxpayer funds as the program is community based and relies heavily on community-based partnerships from stakeholders across the area, including healthcare providers, social service providers, mental health providers, elected officials, court systems, faith-based organizations, professionals serving K-12 children, community members and others across rural west Alabama. This program tailors infrastructure to specific community needs in order to address social determinants of health that make individuals vulnerable to substance use disorders and other chronic conditions that affect quality of life.
Community Partners
Our community partners house community health workers in their service area locations, coordinate community resources and help connect us with community members. Examples of non-clinical partners may include, but are not limited to, school systems, jails, drug courts, universities, community-use facilities, and faith-based organizations.
Avail Management Services
Program Management & Community Health Worker Training Facilitation
Health and Wellness Education Center
Community Partner and Community Coordinator
Theo Ratliff Activity Center
Community Partner
V & C Outreach Resource Center
Community Partner
Harvest Ministries
Community Partner
Butler Chapel A.M.E Zion
Community Partner
Past Community Events
Sumter County
March 2023 - Strengthening Families Program, where RCORP II provided medication lock boxes for program participants. Organization attendees and speakers included West Central Alabama AHEC, The Health & Wellness Education Center, Officer William Shelton, Chief Josette White, and Sumter County Community Health Workers.
For more information about the program , please contact Eleanor James: eleanorjames53@yahoo.com
Community Health Workers assisting participants.
Officer Shelton spoke about the dangers of opioids and how Narcan administration can help save lives.
Marengo County
March 2023 - Demopolis Police Department Spring Fling
Thanks for stopping by our table Marengo County Commissioner Armstead.
Thanks for stopping by our table Dr. Steiner, OBGYN.
Marengo County
March 2023 - Drug Awareness and Prevention presentation for Marengo County youth and parents.
Choctaw County
April 2023 - Community Health Workers provided SUD/OUD Education and resources at the Community Health and Wellness Fair.
Marengo County
April 2023 - Community Health Workers provided education during community sunrise services on Vaping, Mental Health, Heart Health, Diabetes and Hypertension.
Choctaw County
April 2023 - CHW provided SUD/OUD education and distributed medication lock boxes at Halsell Church of God during the presentation by Operation Save Teens.
Clarke County
May 2023 - “Jumpstart to Prevention” CHWs provided prevention education, resources, and incentives for youth, parents, school administrators, and community members.
Choctaw County
May 2023 - Community Resource Fair held at Butler Chapel A.M.E. Church.
Clarke County
May 2023 - CHWs provided health education sessions, medication lockboxes & disposal kits, and participant incentives at the Jefferson District Conference held on May 30-31st.
Marengo County
June 2023 - CHWs pictured with Linden Mayor Gwendolyn Rogers as they provided community education and resources at the Marengo County Family Fun Day on June 17th
Marengo County
June 2023 - CHW attended EPIPHANY’s community event held in Demopolis, AL on June 24th
Marengo County
July 2023 - CHWs attended the Jefferson District “Everybody Birthday” faith-based event on July 2nd.
Choctaw County
July 2023 - Health education and resources provided by CHWs at faith-based event in Butler, AL on July 16th.
Marengo County
July 2023 - Participants received health education and $50 school supply incentives during the Back-to-School community event held on July 22nd.
Marengo County
July 2023 - Participants received health education and $50 school supply incentives during the Back-to-School community event held on July 22nd.
Marengo County
July 2023 - CHW team members were out and about sharing resources, back-to-school incentives, and engaging with community leaders across Marengo county during Ola's Annual School Supply Giveaway/Fun Day on July 25th.
Marengo County
July 2023 - CHW team members were out and about sharing resources and engaging with community leaders across Marengo county during the Community Engagement Conversation event hosted by the Blackbelt Community Foundation and Quire Consulting.
Choctaw County
July 2023 - Participants at Fairfield CME and community members received health education and Suicide Prevention Training via the QPR Institute and ASPARC on July 29th
RCORP II Impact Report
Additional Community Opportunities
These opportunities are not sponsored by S.A.O.R, so please contact the event organizer with questions.
Career Pathway Program
Host: Coastal Alabama Community College
Fentanyl Facts and Overdose Risk: A FREE DEA Educational Foundation Course
Fentanyl Facts and Increased Overdose Risk. This course was developed by the Addiction Policy Forum in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Educational Foundation and JCOIN to share facts about fentanyl in the U.S., increasing overdose risk, and resources for communities. The course takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Source: Addiction Policy Forum & Correctional Leaders Association. (2022). A DEA Educational Foundation Course: Fentanyl Facts and Overdose Risk. Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network Coordination and Translation Center.
Resources
School Counselor Resource Guide
RCORP II Page and Impact Report
Community Service Programs of West Alabama
(Choctaw and Sumter)
Community Action Agency of South Alabama
(Clarke and Marengo)
(Food, Energy Assistance, Case Management, Housing, Education, Elderly Assistance, etc.)
Alabama Department of Human Resources
(Food Assistance, Work and Job Training Services, Childcare, etc.)
Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission/Area Agency on Aging
(Elderly Assistance: Medicare Counseling, Farmers Market Vouchers, Legal Services, Home and Community Based Services, Prescription Assistance, Legal Services, Senior Centers, etc.)
Alabama County Extension Offices
(Resources for Disaster, Finance/Career, Health, Home, Nutrition, Parenting/Family, Workforce Development)
Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs
United Way of West Alabama/211
United Way of Southwest Alabama
(Choctaw and Clarke County)
Contact Us
Email: thesaorproject@gmail.com
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© 2020 Southwest Alabama Opioid Response Project
The Southwest Alabama Opioid Response Project is an initiative of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program and aims to reduce the morbidity and mortality of substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD) in the rural Alabama communities of Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Dallas, Escambia, Greene, Henry, Marengo, Monroe, Perry, Sumter and Wilcox Counties.
This website is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of 3 awards totaling $3,000,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
