Rachel Stahl

Hi there, my name is Rachel Stahl and I am a community health worker. I currently work as the program manager for the HRSA program, the community health worker training program funded by HRSA for the Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance. I also work for the Minnesota community, the Winona Community Hub in Winona, Minnesota, which is also a program that utilizes community health workers.

Hi there, my name is Rachel Stahl and I am a community health worker. I currently work as the program manager for the HRSA program, the community health worker training program funded by HRSA for the Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance. I also work for the Minnesota community, the Winona Community Hub in Winona, Minnesota, which is also a program that utilizes community health workers.

I would say that community health workers are often from the communities that they're serving and they're real experts at being able to sort of speak the language of the medical and social service communities and also speak the languages of their communities, whether that be a language besides English or just a way of speaking, way of understanding the world. And so

I would say that community health workers are often from the communities that they're serving and they're real experts at being able to sort of speak the language of the medical and social service communities and also speak the languages of their communities, whether that be a language besides English or just a way of speaking, way of understanding the world. And so

they kind of help people in the community understand the systems. And I think at our best, we also help those systems understand those communities and how to best serve them. So we can sort of advocate for both and help those places understand each other so that those providers can really do work at the top of their licenses and can serve the communities more effectively.

they kind of help people in the community understand the systems. And I think at our best, we also help those systems understand those communities and how to best serve them. So we can sort of advocate for both and help those places understand each other so that those providers can really do work at the top of their licenses and can serve the communities more effectively.

Because I think a lot of times... professionals who work in health or social services really, really, really want to do right by their patients and by their clients and by participants in their programs, and they may just not be able to understand how to do that.

Because I think a lot of times... professionals who work in health or social services really, really, really want to do right by their patients and by their clients and by participants in their programs, and they may just not be able to understand how to do that.

So community health workers can sort of translate between different ways of seeing the world, different ways of speaking, different ways of understanding.

So community health workers can sort of translate between different ways of seeing the world, different ways of speaking, different ways of understanding.

Yeah, I really think that often people, when they go to their doctor or even the therapist or any other licensed professional, they get recommendations from those professionals. And it's often very difficult for any of us to understand how to take those recommendations and apply those to our lives. And there really isn't enough time in the clinic for a provider to to really go there with someone.

Yeah, I really think that often people, when they go to their doctor or even the therapist or any other licensed professional, they get recommendations from those professionals. And it's often very difficult for any of us to understand how to take those recommendations and apply those to our lives. And there really isn't enough time in the clinic for a provider to to really go there with someone.

And so, you know, your doctor will tell you you need to get exercise. And one of our clients or patients or participants in our programs might think, well, I don't have tennis shoes. I don't have a membership to the gym. I don't understand what you're talking about. I have all these things going on in my life. I don't have time for this, whatever.

And so, you know, your doctor will tell you you need to get exercise. And one of our clients or patients or participants in our programs might think, well, I don't have tennis shoes. I don't have a membership to the gym. I don't understand what you're talking about. I have all these things going on in my life. I don't have time for this, whatever.

And the community health worker can sit down with them and say, hey, what are you already doing? You're already taking your dog for a walk. That's awesome. What if you just went a little bit further? Sort of saying you don't need to join a fancy gym. You don't need to buy any new equipment. Let's talk about how you can get more active in your life in a way that actually works for you.

And the community health worker can sit down with them and say, hey, what are you already doing? You're already taking your dog for a walk. That's awesome. What if you just went a little bit further? Sort of saying you don't need to join a fancy gym. You don't need to buy any new equipment. Let's talk about how you can get more active in your life in a way that actually works for you.

And so the community health worker isn't recommending exercise, the community health worker is taking the recommendation from the provider and really translating it to the real life of the participant.

And so the community health worker isn't recommending exercise, the community health worker is taking the recommendation from the provider and really translating it to the real life of the participant.

So it's that deep knowledge of where a client patient participant is coming from and sort of that empathy and listening and time to say like, hey, everybody can get a little bit more activity in their day. Let's talk about it. Let's make a plan that can really work for you. And then I can provide support and accountability

So it's that deep knowledge of where a client patient participant is coming from and sort of that empathy and listening and time to say like, hey, everybody can get a little bit more activity in their day. Let's talk about it. Let's make a plan that can really work for you. And then I can provide support and accountability