Klamath County, Oregon – The Local Alcohol and Drug Planning Committee (LADPC) in Klamath County is giving people who want to work in community health additional opportunities. The committee announced that scholarships are available for anyone who want to become Traditional Health Workers (THWs). This job is meant to connect people who need healthcare services with those who can provide them.
The money is meant to help anyone who want to learn as a Community Health Worker, Peer Support Specialist, Peer Wellness Specialist, Personal Health Navigator, or Doula by getting rid of any financial constraints. The LADPC wants to improve the county’s ability to provide community-based health and rehabilitation programs by helping emerging professionals in these fields.
Traditional health workers are very important to public health in a special way. They are typically trusted members of the communities they serve because they share personal stories that help them connect with others. This link helps THWs learn what people in the area need, point them in the proper direction, and promote better living. Their work is especially important in rural or underdeveloped communities, where getting medical treatment can be hard.
Each THW category has a specific use. Community health workers help individuals learn, get better health, and connect with medical and social resources. Peer Support Specialists have been through things like addiction, mental health concerns, or gambling problems themselves, and they use their own recovery experiences to support others who are going through similar things.
Peer Wellness Specialists build on this role by providing support and working to remove the stigma around mental health and addiction. Personal Health Navigators help people make informed decisions about their health care that are right for them, and Doulas help women and families with emotional and practical support during pregnancy, childbirth, and the time after.
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The LADPC is putting money into both individuals and the community as a whole by giving out these scholarships. More qualified THWs means that more people can get help, advice, and support with getting around the healthcare system. That, in turn, makes the community as a whole healthier and gives people who need help a stronger support network.
Applications and additional details are available through the Klamath County website at https://www.klamathcounty.org/1397/Traditional-health-worker.
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