Community Health Worker Project

The Community Health Worker (CHW) project provides cancer education curriculum and training to address the gap in cancer-specific content for certified CHWs to deliver to diverse communities in need of screening, or undergoing screening, or those with a new diagnosis in Oregon and SW Washington.

CHWs help build capacity, skills, and advocacy among diverse communities. They are trusted, culturally appropriate, and responsive partners to deliver health promotion information and improve access to cancer screenings to diverse communities.

Importance

In 2025, Oregon’s breast cancer screening rate dropped from 74% in 2018 to 67%, and Washington’s from 76% to 63% (women 40+ years of age, who have received a screening mammogram in two years). Breast cancer is a screenable cancer, and if caught at earlier stages, it could reduce harsh treatments, increase quality of life, and save more lives.

The training will also include guidance on providing emotional support to a patient waiting for screening results and after a diagnosis.

Trainings

Content includes cancer data trends, general risk/protective factors, breast cancer-specific data, and programs/services available. A more in-depth breast cancer training is also available. Interpreters are available. Once the trainings are completed, CHWs will receive a resource guide. Click here for training dates.

CHWs will receive:

• Financial stipend for attending the training
• 1.5 Continuing Education Units

Outcomes

With a more informed CHW community, the outcomes will include strong connections between the healthcare system and community-based organizations, increased knowledge, and higher use of programs and services available. The long-term outcomes include more informed BIPOC/marginalized communities, improved screening rates, more lives saved, and higher quality of life for all breast cancer patients in Oregon and SW Washington. As a leading cause of illness, short-term and long-term disability, and death, the CHW Project is of great importance to this region.

Major Partners

• Oregon Community Health Workers Association (ORCHWA)
• Oregon Health Authority – Screenwise
• OHSU Knight Cancer Institute COE Team
• PeaceHealth Kearney Breast Center
• Southwest Washington Accountability of Community Health (SWACH)

Funders