Community Health Club discussions lead to many great “a-ha” moments. In the spirit of club knowledge sharing, we are starting a series called “Buena Idea,” looking at some of the smart solutions and practical ideas that our club facilitators and members are coming up with to live healthier.

San Antonio, Texas — When Marissa Gutierrez of the city of San Antonio’s Healthy Neighborhoods program set out to do Health Confianza’s Salud con Sabor curriculum at The Untouchables Community Health Club, a club member approached her with an idea.

Cheryl Tondre suggested they take the opportunity to teach members how to use an air fryer to cook healthier, using less fats and oils.

At first, Gutierrez said, she wasn’t exactly sure how she was going to incorporate an air fryer into the curriculum.

“I would say that I was a little nervous at first when my community members requested it as our main focus,” Gutierrez said “I didn’t have an air fryer at the time and had very little knowledge when it came to using it.”

However, when she learned that every community member in the club had an air fryer at home that “they either used daily or was left to collect dust in the box,” she agreed it was worth a try.

La Idea

Tondre saw the value in air fryer for senior community members like her in terms of safety and convenience. Many people own an air fryer, Tondre said, but don’t use it because they aren’t sure how to use it or what it can do.

“The air fry is so easy to work with,” Tondre said. “I’ve done pork chops, I’ve done chicken, I’ve done cookies, I’ve done pizza. And it keeps the elderly away from the stove.”

It can also help with electricity costs during the summer because you don’t have to turn on the oven, Tondre added.

The Untouchables ran with the idea and developed eight weeks of demos using the cooking device. From November to December, they made dishes including BBQ air fryer chicken, egg salad, air fryer Chex mix, and air fryer seasoned potatoes.

What helped with the success of the air fry series, Gutierrez said, was their openness to learn and engage with one another.

“The community members who used their air fryers daily had the opportunity to share their knowledge with their neighbors, and the neighbors who didn’t have as much experience got to learn from their more experienced neighbors and hands-on learning,” Gutierrez added.

The air fryer series was a hit, with packed meetings and seniors asking questions on both the nutrition curriculum and air fryer recipes.

Gutierrez also added an activity on local grocery apps for smart phones. That activity led to showing members how to first download the app, then use the app for coupons and additional savings (see story). While some members needed help downloading the apps, most were eager to do so.

The Untouchables wrapped up their graduation of the Salud con Sabor curriculum on Jan. 14^th, posing for pictures with their completion certificates and eating garlic cheesy bread made with air fryers.

“We were able to harness and highlight the community’s strengths and help each other grow, especially me,” Gutierrez said. “They inspired me so much that I went out and purchased a small air fryer to help me in the kitchen. I believe they all enjoyed the ability to learn new ways to take smalls steps towards their own successes in reducing the amount of fried food they eat.”

 

San Antonio, TEXAS — The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) and its partners are offering free continuing education for Community Health Workers. See below.

 

San Antonio, Texas — Health Confianza’s Community Health Club program has been running in Bexar County for a little more than three years. We surveyed our club members to gain insights into the impact this peer-to-peer learning model is having in our communities. See below.

*Infographic by Health Confianza Project Manager Mia Vento.

 

 

 

At our Community Health Clubs, facilitators take relatable problems like high food costs, and turn them into an opportunity to share ideas and resources.

That’s exactly what Marissa Gutierrez, a Community Health Club facilitator who works for the city of San Antonio’s Healthy Neighborhoods program, did for her club, called The Untouchables. She wanted her club members to know that spending a few minutes a week using apps and/or social media can help them save money on their next trip to the grocery store.

Many popular retailers use apps, digital coupons or online specials to attract shoppers. Shoppers who are not using the apps, may be missing out on additional savings.

In this era of high grocery costs, it pays to take advantage of digital deals, along with free food resources in the community.

Here is a modified version of Gutierrez’ club presentation:

1. Use apps to save on groceries and get health information. Pro Tip: Make sure you know your phone’s password and your email password. You may need to access your email to receive additional information.
2. Download popular retailer apps, such as MY HEB in the App Store on your Apple device or the Google Play Store on your Android device. Pro Tip: Make sure you know your phone’s password and your email password. You may need to access your email to receive additional information.
3. Learn to use apps to find digital coupons. Pro Tip: The MY HEB app offers digital coupons, and Combo Locos. You can also scan an items QR code to get nutrition facts and see if they are SNAP EBT eligible, low carb and more.
4. If a retailer does not have an app, look at their social pages on FB and Instagram to see if they advertise specials or have newsletters. Pro Tip: Poco Loco Super Mercado has several locations in San Antonio and you can sign up for weekly ads on their website. https://www.pocolocosupermercado.com/
5. Find SNAP-friendly retailers. Pro Tip: Follow Chicho Boys Fruit Market and River City Produce on Facebook to find affordable fruits and veggies. Chicho Boy accepts SNAP and is part of the Double Up Food Bucks Texas program. https://doubleuptexas.org/find-a-location/
6. If you are a parent, sign up for WIC benefits. Pro Tip: JC Food Mart  – a San Antonio-based grocery store that accepts WIC benefits and primarily sells WIC-authorized foods including fruit, dairy and formula. Visit https://www.jcfoodmart.com/ for locations.
7. Follow or visit nonprofits online for free food distributions. Pro Tip: San Antonio Food Bank offers Freshtrak.com, an updated list of food distribution events; and Find Help shows available emergency food resources, https://www.findhelp.org/food/emergency-food–san-antonio-tx

*Health Confianza does not endorse specific retailers or vendors.

San Antonio, TEXAS — During the 15^th annual Mayor’s Fitness Council Breakfast on Dec. 11, the council honored Jason Rosenfeld with its 2024 Spirit of Service Award and Health Confianza with its 2024 Healthy Champion Award.

The Mayor’s Fitness Council (MFC) is a community-wide collaborative to reduce obesity in San Antonio. The mission of the MFC is to increase awareness and connect San Antonio residents to opportunities for improved emotional well-being, physical activity, and healthy eating.

Jason Rosenfeld, associate professor of medicine at UT Health San Antonio and co-director of Health Confianza, was recognized for a commitment to educating future public health leaders and the innovative health equity initiative titled, Health Confianza.

Rosenfeld and Melanie Stone, assistant professor of Family & Community Medicine and co-director of Health Confianza, established Health Confianza in 2020 to improve the health literacy of health professionals, organizations and community.

About Health Confianza:

Founded in 2021, Health Confianza is a collaborative, multilevel public health initiative aimed at creating a more informed, confident and healthier community. Through health literacy programs designed to help people make health decisions, we are increasing access to and utilization of health information and services. In keeping with its mission, Health Confianza, which is housed at UT Health San Antonio, has engaged with thousands of community members and provided support and training to numerous nonprofit agencies and clinics. In 2024, Health Confianza received the Promising Practice award from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its innovative approach and the strides it has made in improving health literacy in underserved, under-resourced communities in Bexar County. To learn how to get involved, visit HealthConfianza.org and WellnessCultura.org.

San Antonio, Texas — Health care workers want patients and clients to leave an appointment recalling the conversation and knowing what steps to take next.  

Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. For some, an appointment can be an anxiety-filled experience, especially if there are language barriers, or a use of technical words that may make things hard to follow.  

Health literacy experts support the use of an evidence-based method — Teach Back — during conversations between health care workers and clients that can help improve recall, understanding and adherence to treatment plans. 

The Teach Back method is defined as asking patients, in a non-shaming way, to repeat, in their own words, what they need to know or do. For instance, understanding when and how to take their insulin, or how to properly use an inhaler to control asthma symptoms.  

An effective way to learn how to use this strategy is a program called the 5Ts for Teach Back. Health literacy expert Kathryn Anderson and a team at the University of New Mexico Hospitals created the 5Ts method, which breaks Teach Back into five skills that can help health care workers do it well with every patient or client conversation.  

The 5Ts are specific, observable steps: Triage, Tools, Take Responsibility, Tell Me, and Try Again.  

Health care workers of various roles, from nurses and physicians to pharmacists and community health workers, rely on this method to get important information across to their audiences. 

The following definitions of the 5Ts are excerpts from the original academic paper with some entries edited for brevity. Read the academic article (linked below) for a more in-depth explanation of each step. 

• Triage – In the first triage step, a health worker determines which one to three topics are most important and will be the focus for education and Teach Back. Research has shown that the more information a clinician delivers, the less information the patient will remember correctly. The authors encourage a “chunk and check,” meaning you deliver one chunk of information and then check back to make sure it is understood.  During the teaching step, the provider must use plain language and consider the patient’s cultural and linguistic background context.  

• Tools — A tool is broadly defined as any aid that can assist the clinician with providing a clear explanation. Reader-friendly handouts, simple pen-and-paper drawings, models or diagrams, use of the health care workers’ own body (such as using the fist to represent the heart pumping), or even a relatable story are possible tools.

• Take responsibility — The Take Responsibility step is critical for the non-shaming aspect of the Teach-Back definition. This step happens once the health care worker has delivered a chunk of information. The health care worker may state, “That was a lot of information, and it can be hard to remember all that at once, so I want to make sure I did a good job explaining it.”  

• Tell me — During the Tell Me step, the health care worker invites patients to state, in their own words, what they understood. The ask needs to be specific, such as, “How will you use your glucose meter when you go home?” This allows the patient and the health care worker to focus on one specific piece of information so they are both on the same page. In some cases, the provider may ask the patient to show, rather than tell, such as demonstrating the use of an inhaler.
  
  
• Try again — If the patient does not tell back correctly, the health care worker must explain the information again, modifying the explanation to make it clearer. This may mean using plainer words or using a different tool like a drawing or an analogy, to teach in a way that makes sense to the patient. Another round of Teach Back must be done to ensure correct understanding. 

How effective is the Teach Back method? 

Teach back is recommended by The Joint Commission, a nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies health care organization and programs in the United States. It is the number one ranked health literacy practice to teach trainees. There is a growing body of evidence that supports the effectiveness of Teach Back. It is associated with increased knowledge, better adherence to medical regimens, improved patient outcomes like glycemic control, and improved patient safety. 

Learn more: 

1. The 5Ts for Teach Back: An Operational Definition for Teach-Back Training
2. TeachBackTraining.org

Scroll down for six healthy Thanksgiving recipes, from dessert to main and sides and a turkey.

Cinnamon baked pumpkin: servings 10, calories: 106, fat:3g, protein:1g (Dessert)  

Recipe found on: https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/259396/cinnamon-baked-pumpkin/ 

Diabetes-friendly, low-fat, dairy-free, vegan, low-calorie  

Ingredients: 

• ¼ cup packed brown sugar 

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

• ½ teaspoon salt 

• 3 pounds baking pumpkin or winter squash (butternut or acorn), peeled, seeded, 

• 2 tablespoons roasted peanut oil, peanut oil, cooking oil, or butter, melted 

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 3-quart rectangular baking dish with foil. In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt; set aside. In prepared 3-quart rectangular baking dish toss pumpkin with oil. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture evenly over pumpkin. 

1. Bake, covered with foil, for 40 minutes. Uncover and stir pumpkin. Bake, uncovered, about 15 minutes more or until pumpkin is tender. Makes 10 (3/4-cup) servings. 

Sauteed brussels sprouts with bacon and onions (side)

Recipe found on: https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/249972/sauteed-brussels-sprouts-with-bacon-onions/ 

Servings: 10, calories: 77, Protein: 4g 

Ingredients: 

• 2½ pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed 

• 4 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces 

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 

• 1 large onion, diced 

• 4 sprigs thyme or savory, plus 2 teaspoons leaves, divided 

• 1 teaspoon salt 

• Freshly ground pepper, to taste 

• 2 teaspoons lemon juice (optional) 

Directions:  

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. If sprouts are very small, cut in half; otherwise cut into quarters. Cook the sprouts until barely tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain. 

1. Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring, until brown but not crisp, 3 to 6 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to drain on a paper towel. Pour out all but about 1 tablespoon bacon fat from the pan. 

1. Add oil to the pan and heat over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until soft but not browned, reducing the heat if necessary, about 4 minutes. Stir in thyme (or savory) sprigs, salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium-high, add the Brussels sprouts, and cook, tossing or stirring occasionally, until tender and warmed through, about 3 minutes. Remove the herb sprigs. Add the bacon, thyme (or savory) leaves and lemon juice, if using, and toss. 

Herb-roasted turkey  

Servings: 12, calories: 172, protein: 25g  

Ingredients:  

•  10- to 12-pound turkey 

• ¼ cup fresh herbs, plus 20 whole sprigs, such as thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano and/or marjoram, divided 

• 2 tablespoons canola oil 

• 1 teaspoon salt 

• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 

• Aromatics, onion, apple, lemon and/or orange, cut into 2-inch pieces (1½ cups) 

• 3 cups water, plus more as needed 

Directions: 

1. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven; preheat to 475°F. 

1. Remove giblets and neck from turkey cavities and reserve for making gravy(optional). Place the turkey, breast-side up, on a rack in a large roasting pan; pat dry with paper towels. Mix 1/4 cup minced herbs, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Rub the herb mixture all over the turkey, under the skin and onto the breast meat. Place 1 1/2 cups aromatics and 10 of the herb sprigs in the cavity. Tuck the wing tips under the turkey. Tie the legs together with kitchen string. Add 3 cups water and the remaining 10 herb sprigs to the pan. 

1. Roast the turkey until the skin is golden brown, 45 minutes. Remove from the oven. Cover the breast with a double layer of foil, cutting as necessary to conform to the breast. 

1. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh without touching bone registers 165°F, 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 hours more. If the pan dries out, tilt the turkey to let juices run out of the cavity and into the pan and add 1 cup water. 

1. Transfer the turkey to a serving platter and cover with foil. Let the turkey rest for 20 minutes. Remove the string and carve. 

Roasted sweet potatoes

Recipe found on: https://www.delish.com/cooking/a22639681/how-to-roast-sweet-potatoes/ 

Ingredients:  

• 1 lb. sweet potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1/2″ cubes 

• 2 Tbsp neutral oil 

• 1 tsp salt 

• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper 

Directions: 

1. In a large bowl, toss potatoes with oil and salt. Spread on a baking sheet, then cover with foil, crimping edges to seal. 

1. Arrange a rack in the center of the oven. Place sheet on rack; preheat oven to 450°. 

1. Leave potatoes in the oven for 20 minutes (they will begin to cook as the oven heats up). Remove foil from pan and continue to roast until potatoes are caramelized and tender, about 10 minutes more. 

1. Make Ahead: Potatoes can be roasted 5 days ahead. 

Green beans recipe  

Recipe found on: https://www.eatingwell.com/green-beans-amandine-8732105 

Calories: 109, carbs: 12, protein: 3g 

Ingredients: 

• 3 (8 ounce) packages haricots verts (French-style green beans), trimmed 

• 5 teaspoons unsalted butter  

• ¼ cup sliced or slivered almonds 

• 1 large shallot, minced 

• 2 cloves garlic, minced 

• ¼ cup dry white wine 

• ¾ teaspoon salt 

• ½ teaspoon ground pepper 

Directions: 

1. Bring 1 to 2 inches of water to boil in a large pot fitted with a steamer basket. Fill a large bowl or pot with ice water and set it near the stove. Steam haricots verts until tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer them to the ice water and let stand in the water for about 5 minutes. Drain and pat dry with paper towels.
2. Melt 5 teaspoons butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add ¼ cup almonds; cook, stirring constantly, until light golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the almonds to a plate.
3. Increase heat to medium. Add shallot and garlic to the pan; cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in ¼ cup wine; cook until slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the beans, the almonds, ¾ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper; cook, tossing to coat the beans with the sauce, until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. 

Crispy potatoes  

Recipe found on: https://thecleaneatingcouple.com/crispy-sheet-pan-roasted-potatoes/

Making oven roasted potatoes is pretty simple. You’ll just need: 

• olive oil 

• potatoes 

•  salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder 

• a baking sheet + parchment paper. 

You can use coconut oil, grapeseed oil, or avocado oil. 

1. Cut potatoes: To cut potatoes, first slice them lengthwise into slabs. Then slice them into thick fry-like shapes. Finally, cut potatoes into cubes. 

1. In a bowl, toss together cut potatoes, olive oil + spices. Make sure all pieces are evenly coated 

1. Spread out potatoes on a lined baking sheet 

1. Bake at 450° for 20 minutes and stir potatoes to make sure all sides are getting evenly cooked. Bake for an additional 20 minutes until the potatoes are browned. 

The South Texas Community Health Workers Workforce Preparedness Collaborative (STCWPC), an initiative led by UT Health San Antonio, is celebrating the first community health worker apprentices to graduate from its program in South Texas during National Registered Apprenticeship Week, Nov. 17–23.

Established in 2022 to train community health workers (CHW), STCWPC integrates public health competencies into community health training, and advocates for greater CHW employment. These apprenticeship programs are relatively new in the field, but advocates believe they will help to elevate field growth through standardized professional development.

As part of its registered apprenticeship program, STCWPC provides annual stipends for CHW apprentices and mentors, manages documentation for the registered program, provides technical assistance in the design of apprentice evaluation and on-the-job training activities, and can support employers in finding complimentary funding for apprenticeship training.

Community First Health Plans, which offers health care coverage for individuals and families, recently graduated two employees from its apprenticeship program, leveraging support from STCWPC.

“I am so happy that this CHW apprenticeship program was able to address the workforce needs [Community First Health Plans] identified,” said Jason Rosenfeld, associate professor of medicine at UT Health San Antonio and director of the STCWPC. “Community First provides the example, as the first employer to sign up for our registered apprenticeship program and have their apprentices complete their training, for how other health and social service agencies in the region can develop their own, in-house CHW training programs.”

The collaborative is looking to assist more employers in early 2025. To receive assistance, employers must reach out to STCWPC by mid-February 2025.

If you are a hiring manager or employer who wants to learn more about hiring or upskilling a CHW apprentice, watch the collaborative’s recent webinar “Hire a Community Health Worker Apprentice: We’ll do the Heavy Lifting.”

Watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr7t3Uwjjhg&t=14s

For more information, contact Shayanne Martin at martins5@uthscsa.edu

 

**Since publication of this press release, the funding source changed, but it does not affect the funding amount or purpose.

SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 6, 2024 – Bexar County awarded The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) three grants totaling $9.9 million in federal coronavirus relief bill funding to improve access to health care and create a more equitable and resilient community.

Money from the legislation, known as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), locally will support further recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in addressing addiction from substance use, behavioral health and long COVID.

Bexar County selected UT Health San Antonio’s Be Well Institute on Substance Use and Related Disorders, a statewide system of substance use and mental health services, for two, two-year grants totaling $7.6 million to support local substance use treatment and peer recovery support services. And Health Confianza, a countywide multilevel health literacy initiative of UT Health San Antonio, will receive a two-year, $2.3 million grant to address long COVID and health literacy challenges.

“This funding is a lifeline for individuals in Bexar County who are struggling with homelessness and substance use disorders,” said Jennifer Sharpe Potter, PhD, MPH, vice president for research at UT Health San Antonio and founding director of its Be Well Institute. “Too many people are unable to get the care they need due to limited access, fragmented care and stigma. With this support and the partnership of local organizations, we can bring compassionate, evidence-based services right to our community, ensuring no one is left behind.”

For Health Confianza, the Bexar County grant comes on the heels of the Promising Practice award from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its innovative approach to improving health outcomes in underserved, under-resourced communities in San Antonio. Health Confianza collaborates with organizations, health professionals and the community to reduce health inequities using health literacy strategies. A few of the key benefits of health literacy include improved health outcomes, increased ability to navigate the health care system and lower health care costs.

“This grant will enable us to empower community members to take charge of their own physical and mental health through our team of dedicated community health workers, said Jason Rosenfeld, DrPH, MPH, associate professor at UT Health San Antonio and co-director of Health Confianza. “At the same time, Health Confianza’s work will help to increase the efficacy and coordination of services of health and social service agencies in Bexar County. When you improve health literacy, you improve the well-being of people living in Bexar County.”

The effects of the pandemic

Congress passed ARPA in 2021 to address the economic and public health impacts of COVID. More than five years after the start of the pandemic, Americans still are experiencing its broad effects, especially those in vulnerable populations with barriers to health care.

Be Well Institute is using its funding to deliver two critical programs aimed at addressing substance use and recovery support in Bexar County. In collaboration with Corazón San Antonio, Be Well Institute is launching a Mobile Medical Team to meet the urgent need for substance use treatment among individuals experiencing homelessness, led by project director Tara Karns-Wright, PhD, MS.

This initiative combines Be Well Texas’ expertise in addiction care with Corazón’s trusted outreach services, providing in-field care, addiction treatment and comprehensive coordination to enhance access to vital health services for this vulnerable population.

Additionally, the funds will enable the launch of the Bexar County Community Recovery Support Services initiative in collaboration with community partner Unity Recovery, with Potter as project director. This project will establish the county’s first recovery community organization and recovery community center to offer peer-led recovery services for individuals facing substance use and mental health concerns, including those at elevated risk of experiencing an overdose.

Operating seven days a week, the center will provide peer recovery support services to individuals and family members, while also expanding the workforce to increase access to peer support services and improve long-term outcomes across the community.

The pandemic also highlighted the health disparities vulnerable communities face, such as poverty, housing instability and lower health literacy, which lead to higher rates of chronic diseases and worse health outcomes.

With Bexar County’s funding, Health Confianza and its main partners — Southside Collaborative, South Central AHEC (Area Health Education Center), WestCare Foundation and YWCA San Antonio — plan to expand health literacy training and programming into 12 high-priority ZIP codes in Bexar County. In keeping with ARPA goals, Health Confianza will also focus on long COVID, chronic illness, and mental health education and training.

It is estimated that one out of every five people who have COVID can go on to develop long COVID.

“Long COVID is now a recognized chronic illness, and our understanding of it is growing,” said Melanie Stone, DrPH, MEd, assistant professor of family and community medicine at UT Health San Antonio and co-director of Health Confianza. “Research has shown that it can trigger other issues that our communities already struggle with, such as diabetes and heart issues. By making systemic health literacy improvements, such as equipping organizations to provide better access to long COVID and preventive health education and services, we are helping individuals achieve enhanced well-being for themselves and their families.”

(As of September 30, 2024, Bexar County has chosen to change the source of the funding for the Agreement. The funding for the Agreement will no longer be ARPA SLFRF funds. Rather, as of September 30, 2024, Bexar County has chosen to fund the unspent amount of the Agreement with non-federal funding.)  

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Courtesy San Antonio Express News

The key to unlocking improved health outcomes in the United States has been in our hands for hundreds of years: community health workers.

Also known as community outreach workers, patient navigators, health educators, community health representatives and promotores de salud, community health workers deliver a variety of health and social services to people where they live, learn, work and play. They are trusted members of their community, sharing a common ethnicity, language, culture and life experiences.

They connect individuals to resources, and improve quality and cultural competency of care. They build individual and community capacity to increase  health knowledge, health behaviors and, ultimately, better health outcomes.

More than 60 years of evidence in primary care, maternal health,  chronic disease interventions, immunizations, oral health and HIV care proves community health workers play a crucial role in improving the health of our country.

In Texas, there are more than 5,000 certified community health workers, along with many others working without certification. All are on the front lines of health care to serve our most vulnerable populations.

Unfortunately, community health workers remain on the fringes of public health. With less than 3% of U.S. health care expenditures going to public health and disease prevention, these positions are often grant-funded, contributing to a lack of sustainable recruitment, training, professional development and career pathways.

The good news is the U.S. government has significantly invested in building the community health workforce, an interest renewed in part by COVID-19.

In 2022, the Health Resources and Service Administration granted over $225 million to train community health workers. Three San Antonio organizations received $9 million of these funds. We represent one of these programs, a community-academic collaborative led by the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio). As part of our efforts, we bring together training centers and employers in an apprentice program to elevate the community health workforce in South Texas.

Like apprenticeships for trades and professions such as plumbing and electrical, a community health worker apprenticeship is a structured training program that combines on-the-job learning with classroom instruction.

Through registered apprenticeships, employers can learn how to optimally integrate community health workers into their organization and mold future leaders to meet the needs of the populations they serve.

As a cross-sector workforce, community health workers work beyond inpatient and outpatient health care. They also work in schools, government agencies, faith-based organizations, neighborhood centers,  on the street, and   in libraries, pharmacies, affordable housing purveyors and other trusted organizations.

These organizations already face a demand among patrons for linkages to health and social services. A community health worker can alleviate these tasks and allow other team members to focus on other responsibilities.

From the standpoint of an employer, there is no better time to train future health professionals through a registered apprenticeship program. The city of San Antonio’s Ready to Work program and Alamo Workforce Solutions have funds to support the salaries of new and current workers in apprenticeship programs. Our community health worker training program also provides technical expertise in designing  job descriptions, executing on-the-job training and mentorship.

One of the most influential actions a South Texas employer can take this year is hiring a community health worker to prioritize health and well-being. By pulling community health workers from the fringes and into a formalized apprenticeship pathway, we can strengthen the entire public health ecosystem.

Shayanne Martin is a senior project manager with the Charles E. Cheever Jr. Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics at UT Health San Antonio.  Dr. Jason Rosenfeld is an associate professor of medicine at UT Health San Antonio and co-director of Health Confianza.