United Way of Wisconsin receives $3 million to train community health workers

The United Way of Wisconsin will receive $3 million in federal funds to increase the number of trained community health workers.

CEO Charlene Mouille said they will be partnering with the Great Rivers HUB at Great Rivers United Way in Onalaska and Unite WI in Milwaukee to train 190 community health workers over three years.

“The really cool thing about this grant is that it allows for not only the training of community health workers in communities that are most vulnerable to (having) the greatest health disparities, but it allows up to $7,500 in financial support to help reduce barriers to completing the program for the community health workers,” Mouille said.

The partnerships will allow health workers to be trained in an evidence-based apprenticeship model, which Mouille said provides them with on-the-job training in the communities they will be working in.

United Way of Wisconsin will also be partnering with the Wisconsin Association of Free and Charitable Clinics to coordinate the experience for the health workers in the program.

Mouille said this grant will help communities that currently lack access to health worker training. It will also allow workers to feel more comfortable when they start working because they will already have experience in the area.

This article first appeared in the Wisconsin Health News daily email newsletter. Sign up for your free trial here.