New community health workers host first free screening event
Published on September 26, 2022
Weld County, Colorado — The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE) has launched a Community Health Worker (CHW) initiative to build trust within the Spanish-speaking community, while also increasing health screenings and basic health education. The CHWs will provide their first free health screening on September 28 in Milliken:
- Free Health Screening for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar, and Blood Pressure
“The goal of this screening event in Milliken is to increase awareness about heart health and diabetes and how early detection is important to preventing and treating disease,” said Kelly Martinez, Health Education Manager.
The rates of heart disease and diabetes continue to rise in Weld County, with the highest rates in the Hispanic community. For example, the rate of diabetes for non-Hispanic residents in 2022 is 10% compared with 16% for Hispanic residents. Hispanic residents also do not receive health screenings at the same rate as non-Hispanic residents.
CHWs are frontline public health workers who serve to bridge communities and health care systems. They understand local cultural differences, respond to pressing health needs, and foster strong relationships with community members.
As residents with a deep knowledge of their community, CHWs are conducting outreach, coordinating needed services, providing educational materials, and dismantling barriers to accessing medical care. The Health Department CHWs will focus on pressing community needs such as cardiovascular health, behavioral health, diabetes prevention, health screenings, and social service coordination.
For more information about the free health screening in Milliken, call (970) 400-2325.