Rose Village Community Health Update
Last February, we communicated to our partners that the work of the Rose Village Community Health Worker (CHW) team was on pause due to contract changes that required re-assessment. After shifting our attention to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are coming back to our partners with an update.
After careful consideration, SWACH leadership made the difficult decision to discontinue the work of the Rose Village CHW team. We acknowledge that these decisions resulted in unintended consequences and hardship to the CHWs and the community, particularly given the timing with the pandemic.
This decision in no way reflects the effectiveness of the Rose Village CHW Team. Together, they have successfully initiated and implemented programs, activities, and connections, while also organizing support and advocating tirelessly for policies that positively impact the community they serve.
Contributions of the Rose Village CHWs
Advocacy and shared learning have been important considerations as the Rose Village CHW team worked to address the root causes of health disparities. Rose Village CHWs have provided education and testimony to officials both locally and in Olympia for policies that address the housing crisis and lack of affordable housing in the area, income discrimination, and policies affecting transportation.
The team also advocated for policies that help communities make healthier choices, such as increasing the tobacco age, improving mental health support, and increasing efforts around suicide prevention for veterans.
The Rose Village team has worked with many local agencies and community groups over the years to organize and participate in events such as resource fairs, health literacy events, Go-Ready School Preparedness events, Neighborhood Night Out community gatherings, block events, neighborhood cleanup events, neighborhood garden events, senior citizen activities, and holiday events that provided needed clothing and hygiene items to low-income individuals and families in the Rose Village neighborhood.
The Community Health Workers have also organized food drives and fundraising efforts to stock the food pantry at neighborhood schools.
Recognizing the Rose Village Community Health Workers
We would like to close this chapter of the Rose Village CHW team by acknowledging the CHWs and their accomplishments over the past six years. We are planning a virtual convening before the end of the year for the CHWs and the organizations that supported their work.
Heather England
Tyler Peebles
Past coaches
Marge Davis
Sandra Sandoval
Dominique Horn
Tessandra Holowats
Keri Stanberry
Brandi Williams
Bill Judd
Kim Turner
Anne Johnston
Gina Kelly
Liz Vladimirova
Teresa Lavagnino
Mitzy Leeper
Connie Wellman
Evan Lemke
Matti Neal
Nelli Peebles
Long Vue
We sincerely thank all who have supported the team the past six years and look forward to our collective work to continue to bring community voice and wisdom to policy and system change work in our region. We know this work is critical now more than ever, and we look forward to working across the region to ensure we amplify the voices of those most impacted by heath inequities.