Our Mission
The Arizona Community Health Outreach Workers Network (AZCHOW) is a statewide organization designed to create unity while preserving cultural diversity among community health workers.
AZCHOW’s mission is to provide a forum to inform and unite culturally diverse community health workers of all disciplines to strengthen the professional development of the field through resource sharing and collaborative opportunities with community, government, health and educational institutions.
AZCHOW creates partnerships to build upon organizational capacities and strengths while serving the underserved and at-risk population within our state, as well as addressing relevant political and policy issues.
Our Vision
AZCHOW is a statewide organization of community-based advocates who lead by using resource sharing, partnership development, education, outreach, health promotion, and disease prevention strategies to improve the health of Arizona Residents.
AZCHOW provides an opportunity for Community Health Workers (CHWs) to develop a collective voice in addressing relevant policy and sustainability issues, as well as the expansion of the CHW field.
Our History
Founded in 2001 by graduating students from Project Jump Start, a community college basic certificate training program for individuals working in the area of health education, outreach, and advocacy.
Grew from an initial task force of 4 members to a 13 member steering committee.
Includes community health workers, promotoras, community health representatives, lay health workers, community health advisors, and many other titles as part of the membership.
Received financial and technical support from University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the Arizona Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program
Over the years, members have participated in a variety of different workshops and trainings covering topics such as leadership development, advocacy training, communication skills, board training, asthma management skills, obesity/nutrition issues, diabetes & cardiovascular disease, and exercise & health, among many others.
AZCHOW became an incorporated, non-profit organization in February 2004.
AZCHOW conducts outreach activities to increase membership and hopes to include members from all parts of the state, all cultural and ethnic groups, and all nature of community health outreach workers. AZCHOW offers a periodic newsletter for members to inform them about issues of interest both personally and professionally.
The seventh Annual Conference took place on March 19, 2010. Topics included H1N1, cervical cancer, advocacy, and diabetes.
AZCHOW anticipates becoming the center for information, advocacy, education, and best practices for individual CHWs, as well as organizations working with CHWs in the public/community health arena.