2025 Outstanding CHW Program of the Year

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    Award Benefits

    MACHW will provide the following for the awardee:

    • The CHW awardee will receive an award plaque during the CHW Conference in the DCU Convention Center, 50 Foster St, Worcester, MA 01608, on June 6, 2025.
    • Profile of the awardee will be disseminated in local papers, public health and state foundations newsletters, posted on MACHW’s web page and social media outlets.
    • Registration fees for the CHW Annual Conference will be waived.
    • Awardee will receive a certificate of award from MACHW by mail if not attending the CHW Annual Conference.

    Nomination Deadline: May 21, 2025

    Background

    The Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers (MACHW) wants to recognize and honor the outstanding service, dedication, and excellence of individuals and groups of individuals who serve their communities as Community Health Workers (CHWs). The APHA definition of a CHW is: “A frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the CHW to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.” CHWs may use other titles (e.g. patient navigator, outreach worker, etc.) we encourage you to nominate anyone who fits the above description.

    To honor those efforts, MACHW has four awards:

    1. Outstanding CHW of the Year Award
    2. Outstanding CHW Supervisor of the Year Award
    3. Outstanding CHW Program of the Year Award
    4. CHW Champion of the Year Award

    In 2025, four awards will be given. The “Outstanding CHW of the Year Award” will recognize one outstanding CHW for her/his/their service and excellence. The “Outstanding CHW Supervisor of the Year Award” will recognize one outstanding CHW Supervisor for her/his/their service and excellence. The “Outstanding CHW Program of the Year Award” will be given to a group of outstanding CHWs. The “CHW Champion of the Year Award” will recognize one exceptional CHW for her/his/their courage in going above and beyond expectations. Please refer to the group packet to apply for these awards. Awards are open to all CHWs in Massachusetts.

    Permissions

    By submitting a nomination for the MACHW Awards, Nominator and Nominee agree that all or parts of the information contained within the nomination can be released by MACHW in forms that may include but are not limited to press releases, website postings, e-mail announcements, and newsletter articles.

    Cause for Award Revocation

    MACHW reserves to the right to revoke an award after informing the recipient of receipt but prior to accepting the award at the PN/CHW Annual Conference for the following reasons: unethical actions on the part of the recipient; and unbecoming behavior while serving as a CHW so that the CHW is no longer in good standing with his or her community.

    Application Checklist

    In order to make sure your nomination is complete, please have everything in the checklist below before you fill out the form. Note: Nominations without all required information CANNOT be considered.

    __Full Name of Nominated Program

    __Completed MACHW Award Nomination Form

    __Program Statement

    __Nomination Statement

    __Supplemental Materials (optional)

    __Award Feedback Form (optional)

    Nomination Process & Requirements

    The following are required to nominate an Outstanding CHW Program:

    1. The completed MACHW Award Nomination Form
    2. A Program Statement. The program statement should not exceed one single spaced, typed page, 1” margins, 12pt font, endorsed and signed by a designated member of the nominated program, and include the following information:
      • A description of the CHW Program, including
        • program goals
        • population(s) and community(ies) served
        • how CHWs contribute to achieve these goals
        • specific outreach and health education strategies CHWs utilize to engage clients/patients
        • if CHWs refer to other clinical and/or community settings, describe referral protocols and follow up (how do CHWs make sure clients/patients receive the additional services they might need)
      • How are CHWs involved in decision making, project planning, implementation of the project/program?
      • Please describe the role of the CHW Supervisor
      • Length of involvement and service as a CHW Program
      • Description of the impact of the program on the community served
      • Attachments:
        • CHW job descriptions
        • CHW supervisor job description
        • Safety or other workplace policies to support and protect CHWs
    3. Nomination Statement(s). A statement from the person(s) nominating this program describing the reasons (based on the questions below) s/he thinks this program should be considered for the Award. Nominations may be submitted by a member of the CHW program. The justification should not exceed one single-spaced typed pages, 1” margins, 12pt font. The nominator should answer the following questions in the justification section:
      • How do you know the program being nominated? (a client of the program, collaborating organization, administrator, member of the program, etc.)
      • How has the CHW Program made a difference in the community he/she serves?
      • How do CHWs contribute to the program’s overall success? Please feel free to share specific examples
    4. Supplemental Materials (optional). Please feel free to attach additional materials that further demonstrate the excellence of this program. Ex. case stories; letters of recommendation from the target population; news clippings, articles/publications; video clips (of community events; news program, etc.); education materials or tools developed by group, etc.

    Nomination Form