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VHA PROGRAM - FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS
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About VHA
Who can become a VHA?
What training is required to become a VHA?
Stories from current VHAs
Volunteer Health Advisors (VHAs) are people from the local
neighborhood who want to help people in their community stay healthy.
VHAs are volunteers who offer their time, skills and experience
to improve health in their community.
VHAs are specially trained on important health issues so they can
tell groups in their community how to stay healthy. They hold screenings
in their neighborhoods to help people find health problems early,
before they get serious. Some VHAs also run support group meetings
for people with serious diseases, like diabetes.
VHAs are an important connection between the community and Cambridge
Health Alliance. They help people in their neighborhood to find
health care by linking them to CHA clinics and hospitals. They also
tell CHA about what health issues are important in their community.
The VHA program serves communities speaking four main languages:
- English
- Haitian-Creole
- Portuguese
- Spanish
Some VHAs also specialize in particular health areas:
- Nutrition and wellness
- Breast health
- Research
- Diabetes
Who can become a VHA?
Anyone who is interested in keeping their community healthy can
join the VHA network. Our volunteers come from many different backgrounds,
from medical doctors to homemakers.
People who join the VHA team should:
- Be committed to improving health in their community
- Have good community connections
- Be willing to organize special health fairs and screenings
- Be available for orientation and refresher trainings
VHAs should be able to speak comfortably with people in their neighborhood.
In some communities this can mean that speaking a language other
than English is a plus.
What training is required to become a VHA?
All new VHAs must attend a 20 hour health education training in
different languages, facilitated by CHA staff. Participants attend
workshops on topics such as:
- General health issues
- Health access and outreach
- Empowerment and communication skills
- Public health
- Access to primary care and health insurance
- Basic health screening (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose,
and weights and heights)
After the initial training, CHA's Program Coordinators provide
monthly continuing education sessions for VHAs. This keeps VHAs
up to date on the health issues that are important in their communities.
Some VHAs may be interested in particular health topics. With extra
training, these VHAs can become specialists in the following areas:
- Nutrition and wellness
- Breast health
- Research
- Diabetes
Stories from current VHAs
"Being a Volunteer Health Advisor has given me the opportunity
to educate myself about eating habits, chronic illness and its prevention.
Every time I talk to someone, I put in practice what I have learned.
There are members of my family in Dominican Republic who have diabetes
and high blood pressure. I have taught them how to use the glucometer
and how to take their blood pressure. As a result, my father is
a volunteer there teaching his neighbors how to test themselves
and the benefits of knowing how to control their glucose and blood
pressure."
- Alpha Valerio (Alpha has been a VHA for the past three years.
She does glucose and cholesterol screenings both in the VHA program
and with her diabetic family members in her native country.)
"I found that many people I work with are reluctant to seek
treatment. Some prefer natural, or herbal remedies - others try
and treat themselves. Some don't go to the doctor because they don't
have health insurance. As doctors, my wife and I are committed to
helping people. We did similar volunteer work in Haiti after graduating
from school. Today, we talk, help people understand their health
needs, and show them how to get health care. People feel comfortable
with us, and I think they appreciate our efforts."
- Gerald Paul (Gerald and Gertrude Paul both completed medical
school in Haiti before coming to the United States. Now residing
in Somerville, both are VHAs. On any given day, they can be found
in barber shops, churches, or clubs talking about current health
issues.)
"To be a VHA is to make a difference in the lives of the children
and adults by giving them education, counseling and medical care.
I found that the VHA program gave me an opportunity to work with
people from different backgrounds, including the Brazilian community.
Through this program, volunteers have the chance to make a personal
contribution and connection to people."
- Jesse Branth (Jesse has been a VHA for the past 4 years. He
moved to the United States six years ago from Brazil, and is currently
residing in Somerville.)
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Contact us by email
to find out more.
Haitian-Creole-speaking VHA Coordinator
Nadine Marsan
617-591-6810
email
Portuguese-speaking VHA Coordinator
Juliana Coelho
617-591-6923
email
Spanish-speaking VHA Coordinator
Fabiola Alvarez
617-591-6820
email
English-speaking VHA Coordinator
Swayne Blackmon
617-591-6996
email
Breast Health Program Coordinator
Kareen Alabre
617-591-6925
email
VHA Program Manager
Anulekha N Rao
email
617-591-6939
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