July 2026 Newsletter

Dear Maine CHWs and Allies,

As we move through another exciting summer, the Advisory Board is pleased to highlight several important opportunities that continue to strengthen and support Maine's Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce.

We are especially excited about the continued progress of CHW Certification, a significant milestone for our profession that reflects the dedication, expertise, and impact of CHWs across the state. Certification helps elevate the profession, recognize the valuable work CHWs do every day, and create pathways for professional growth and sustainability within the workforce.

We also encourage everyone to join us at the upcoming CHW Summit, where CHWs, partners, employers, and advocates will come together to learn, connect, and celebrate the incredible contributions of frontline public health workers. The Summit offers a unique opportunity to share best practices, build relationships, and advance our collective efforts to improve community health outcomes.

In addition, we are pleased to announce a new offering of our CHW Supervisor Workshop. This free training is designed for current supervisors who want to learn more about effectively supervising, supporting, and empowering Community Health Workers. Participants will gain practical strategies for fostering professional growth, encouraging workforce retention, and creating supportive environments where CHWs can thrive and continue making a meaningful impact in their communities.

Space is limited to 12 supervisors, and we anticipate strong interest. Early registration is strongly encouraged to secure your spot.

Finally, we invite you to explore the excellent continuing education opportunities highlighted in this newsletter. Ongoing learning and professional development are essential to strengthening our workforce and ensuring CHWs and their supervisors have the tools needed to succeed.

Thank you for your continued commitment to advancing the CHW profession and supporting the health and well-being of Maine communities.


The first 25 CHWs to register will receive a $25 coupon toward their Certification assessment at the summit. We can’t wait to see you there!

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS THAT MAKE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE!

-MECHW Advisory Board

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

for the

2026 Maine CHW Summit

 at the Augusta Civic Center

Your Path to Professional Recognition Starts Today!

For New Applications for Certification, the CHW must:

   Be 18 years or older at the time of certification 

   Have a high school diploma, or high school equivalency (HSE) 

   Complete 40 hours of an approved training program based on the C3 Project core competencies endorsed by the Maine CHW Initiative

● Complete a minimum of 1000 service hours  

   Can include volunteer work, peer observation, internship, apprenticeship, and/or paid employment 

○ Can include work in the health care and social fields if they can demonstrate the core CHW skills  

○ Service hours can be completed at multiple organizations 

○ Work experience from the last 2 years will qualify 

   Must consent to the CHW code of ethics

   Application fee $100 


The assessment is offered on the 2nd Thursday of each month

in Hallowell at 12:30 pm.

Article Heading

CHW CERTIFICATION

CONGRATS, Teresa Webber from Maine Mobile Health!

Teresa completed her CHW Certification Assessment in July. Teresa shared that it was not stressful at all, and she was confident in her answers as she completed the assessment.

Congratulations to Teresa and the others who completed their assessments in July. Text Link

Strategic Planning Committees

We are addressing the priority projects for the 2026 Strategic Planning. We have developed the following Committees.

  • Certification
  • CHW Events
  • Leadership Training


If you are ready to jump into this important work, please reach out to Bridgette Dairyko bdairyko@mcd.org. Thank you for your dedication to support the CHW workforce!

Leadership Opportunities & News

CHW Highlights

"Driving Change through Leadership"

Article HeadingLet’s Talk About Breast Cancer

 

“Moving Forward After Breast Cancer: Your Survivorship Care Plan”

 

Christina Bach, MBE, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW

Oncology Social Worker and Psychosocial Content Editor

OncoLink®, Department of Radiation Oncology, Penn Medicine

 

Join us for this informative webinar where you’ll learn about a helpful tool designed to support anyone after breast cancer treatment and those continuing to manage their health. You’ll learn what survivorship care plans are and how OncoLink’s® OncoLife Survivorship Care Plan can help you understand life after treatment, guide your follow‑up care, help you handle long‑term or late side effects, and support healthy habits moving forward.

No Continuing Education credits will be provided for this program.

A Certificate of Attendance will be provided.

 Registration link https://breastcanceruniversity.org/event/moving-forward-after-breast-cancer-your-survivorship-care-plan/

ext Link

If you would like your CHW program highlighted in our monthly newsletter,

Please contact bdairyko@mcd.org

Meetings

MECHWI Monthly Meeting


MECHWI meets monthly. We share strategic updates; participants can network with other CHWs and learn from community programs and resources. All are welcome!


Next Monthly Meeting:

July 28, 1:30-2:30 pm




CHW Peer Support Group

The CHW Peer Support Group Meets Monthly!

Virtual meetings are held the 3rd Thursday of each month at 12:00pm.


NO July MEETING

Monthly Lunch & Learn

NO July MEETING

2026 CHW Core Competency

Training Calendar


Advanced CHW Supervision Training-

Scholarships Available!



The wait is over! If you've completed the Foundations of CHW Supervision Training (Days 1 & 2), you're invited to continue your learning with the Advanced CHW Supervision Training (Days 3 & 4)—the next step in strengthening your supervision skills and supporting a thriving CHW workforce.


Training scholarships are available, making this an excellent opportunity to complete the full supervision 4-day training series. Space is limited, so eligible participants are encouraged to register early.


Who should attend?

CHW supervisors in Maine who have previously completed the Foundations CHW Supervision Training (Days 1 & 2).

Self-Care Tip

The state is filled with beautiful public beaches, state parks, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and swimming holes, many of which are free or cost just a few dollars for parking or admission. 

What is self-care? Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical, health, and mental health. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact. 

Job Posting


Contact Us

Bridgette Dairyko

Associate Manager

bdairyko@mcd.org


For more information, contact us at: info@mechw.org