Community Health Workers learn about intergenerational approaches to building healthy communities
WellShare International hosted a free Community Health Worker Network training on the topic of Intergenerational Strategy – Generations Working Together to Promote Lifelong Health on April 28, 2017 for 34 health professionals. The training was led by Nancy Henkin, Senior Fellow at Generations United and founder of The Intergenerational Center at Temple University in Philadelphia.
The workshop focused on the increasing racial, ethnic and age diversity in our communities and the importance of addressing these challenges in new and innovative ways. Nancy explained the different generational attitudes towards health and health care and presented the implications that these differences will have on families. She also discussed the important role that Community Health Workers play in using the intergenerational lens to help people to build the capacity to thrive.
The workshop was interactive and participants engaged in group discussions where they shared their experiences addressing intergenerational issues. People not only shared their challenges, but also their successes, and came up with ways to enhance their work in order to build healthy communities more effectively. Participant comments included: Very helpful training. It helped me understand cultural views and the importance of helping communities to get together and work together; I have been working on healthy aging and this came at the perfect time so I can implement ideas into this work while it is being developed.
At the end of the training, all participants received a certificate and joined a free networking lunch.
Written by Maria Tomczik
This activity is made possible by a grant from the Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (EHDI) of the Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Minority and Multicultural Health, through an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature.