Healing Begins Here: Training the Next Generation of Community Health Leaders
Roots Community Health is building the next generation of trusted health leaders through its new Community Health Worker (CHW) training program. By equipping community-rooted individuals with skills in navigation, outreach, and trauma-informed care, Roots is creating meaningful career paths while ensuring East Oakland families have the support they need to thrive.
At Roots Community Health, healing doesn’t begin in a clinic—it begins in the community. Now, that community is being trained and empowered in new ways.
Roots Health Navigators—trained Community Health Workers (CHWs)—have been a cornerstone to the successful programs and services offered by Roots since inception. Recently, Roots has launched a new program to train community members as CHWs, building the pipeline of trusted, skilled, and culturally aligned leaders who are equipped to meet East Oakland’s health challenges head-on. This initiative isn’t just about filling roles; it’s about training community-rooted leaders to serve where they are needed most and creating a meaningful career path for members of the community.
What is a Community Health Worker?
CHWs are individuals from the community who are trained to offer health education, outreach, system navigation, and support to members of the community. They are often the first and most consistent link between community members and care, particularly for those who face barriers due to poverty, language, insurance status, or trauma. Their goal is simple, to leave no need unmet for the individuals they serve.
Roots has long recognized the value of CHWs, not just as connectors but as change agents. CHWs play a pivotal role in everything from maternal health and chronic disease prevention to mental health, housing support, and reentry services. Now, through structured training and mentorship, Roots is ensuring that more community members have a path into this impactful career, ensuring that Oakland’s future health workforce is representative of and responsive to the communities they serve.
A Career Path with Purpose
Roots’ new CHW training program builds on this foundation by offering a structured curriculum, mentorship from experienced CHWs, and hands-on experience in clinical and community settings. The program prioritizes individuals with lived experience—ensuring that the care Roots provides is shaped by deep understanding and shared values.
Participants receive training in:
• Trauma-informed care
• Health systems navigation
• Motivational interviewing
• Community resource mapping
• Public speaking and professional development
• Mental health first aid
This approach advances local workforce development, creating meaningful, mission-aligned jobs for those who want to serve their community.
“We have crafted a very effective service model that focuses on meeting people where they are and supporting them to become their best selves. The interactive nature of CHW training classes has helped trainees feel more brave socially. Feeling comfortable talking to community members from various backgrounds.”
—Tracy Brown, Instructor and Curriculum Specialist, Roots Community Health
“I just want to say thank you for creating such a supportive and engaging learning environment. I’ve really enjoyed being part of this class and appreciate all the effort that goes into making it meaningful. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow, especially in areas like public speaking and professional development.”
— Roots CHW Training Participant
A Model for Community-Led Public Health
As health systems across California grapple with how to deliver more equitable, preventative care, Roots is already doing it. By investing in local talent, building trusted relationships, and grounding care in the lived experience of community members, Roots is offering a powerful blueprint for others to follow.
The CHW training program is not just a milestone, it’s another example of Roots’ Whole Health vision in action: healing that begins within, and radiates outward.
Want to Know More?
To learn more about our Community Health Worker program or connect with the team, email Niya Paul at [email protected].