Let's Go Midland: Everyday Life and the Rural Community Health Worker Network Training Center

Jessica Murrell, Shannon Lijewski and Andrea Burton

"Training opens a person's eyes to how they can help others so generations to come, people can live on their own wings.”
- Shannon Lijewski
Founder and CEO of Everyday Life and The rCHWn Training Center

There is something to be said about good steady bridges. They get us from where we are, take us over an obstacle, to where we long to be, or more importantly where we need to be. Here, right in our very own county, are men and women working to be bridges in many different ways, each way just as important as the next. They are Community Health Workers, or CHWs as you will hear them called.

In many urban communities CHWs are becoming very well known for the work they do, but in a predominantly rural county like Midland, Michigan, many people often don't know that CHWs are starting to make effective connections in the neighborhoods and communities outside the city limits as well. There is an overwhelming need for bridge builders in the country.

CHWs come in many forms. A workforce that started predominantly in the medical field is now seen as successful and effective in many other facets. A CHW is an individual who helps to bridge the gap between community members in need and the professionals that can help meet those needs. For example a CHW could be a liaison between a medical professional and a community member. They help the community member navigate through the questions the doctors or nurses would ask in a way that may be more understandable and less intimidating. And now CHWs work way beyond the medical field. As Shannon Lijewski explained, just as there are different types of doctors and teachers, there are different types of CHWs. Some help with integration into society after an addiction, some help with those who fall victim to human trafficking or abusive relationships, yet others are first responders, equine therapists, school paraprofessionals, and faith workers. Many CHWs are busy neighbors who simply see a need to break a cycle in their
very neighborhood and help with community gardens, visiting neighbors, food pantries and little free libraries.

Community Health Workers know the culture of the area they work in, usually because they too live in that exact area and have for quite some time. They understand the lingo, the nuances, and the socio economic norms for the area very well, better than many doctors, judges, parole officers and DHS workers would, who are usually from different areas and circumstances. Also, a rural community health worker would pick up on things that an urban CHW might miss in the same situation, and vice versa. Even in a town as small as Midland, the cultural differences from Center City to the county lines can be vast. Community Health Workers are known for carefully using a nonjudgmental approach. This way of connecting with people breaks down barriers so those that are receiving assistance feel little to no intimidation accepting the help offered to them. CHWs don't provide a hand out, or a hand down, they provide a hand over to their very neighbors, simply helping, connect and educate. And what can fuel their fire to do so, besides their already tremendously beautiful hearts, is incredible, quality training.

More than 10 years ago Shannon Lijewski, started her consulting firm "Everyday Life". A name thought up as she and her husband Keith discussed the importance of helping people in their community navigate through the ins an outs of the very place they all live, work and play... in their every day lives. Shannon grew up the child of an entrepreneur father who strictly hired parolees in order to better their lives and a mother who was a corrections officer, it was in her blood to have a passion to help break cycles and help people see their full potential. Seeing a great need that was going unmet in rural areas, she also began the Rural Community Health Workers Network (rCHWn)Training Center. The training center is located in the village of Sanford within Midland County.

Although she is the founder and CEO, Shannon is incredibly humble and runs the business with a view of her employees as complete equals. Along with Shannon, the team at the rCHWn Training Center consists of Andrea Burton, Director of Training and Outreach with a Bachelors in Marketing, and Jessica Murrell, Creative Marketing Director with a Masters in Business Administration. As a team they fit like a "perfect storm" as Shannon refers to them. The wonderful thing about networking, even with your own employees, is that you all can work together incredibly well when you are each contributing in the areas you are talented in. They all bring their own incredible strengths into play which makes a thriving and effective small business. The rCHWn Training Center started in April and is the only known rural CHW training center in the nation. The need for such a place in our community and country has been confirmed by their 400% growth rate from April to July alone.

The Training Center offers a very high quality training, preparing CHWs around the state and the nation to effectively work in their communities and make a difference. Training is a 6 week course, 2 days a week, a schedule that offers CHWs time to process what they are learning, but also allows them to continue a somewhat normal work week at there places of employment. Training focuses on many skill sets and aspects such as "motivational interviewing" and "nonbiased thinking". The training truly empowers people who at times are doing the work of a CHW and are not aware of the position they are already play in the community.

So what sets apart this Training Center from others? Mostly the great balance of diverse talents available in the team. Jessica mentioned, rCHWn and Every Day Life is a great place to work, everything is always new, every day something positive happens, and although they are not faith based in their actual training, employees are free to talk about God and pray about situations they encounter. The Training Center is hugely inclusive, drama free, safe atmosphere for employees, trainees and members of the community. As Andrea says "it is not about your knowledge, but about the connections you make. This is a workforce where individual experts grow with maturity so they can be equipped to respond to situations effectively without creating more trauma".

Director of Training and Outreach, Andrea Burton, is a very highly sought after trainer. People from near and far have come to receive training especially from Ms. Burton. She is one of only 10 individuals in the entire state that have completed the core competency to be a trainer. Andrea has received additional training through Michigan ACEs Initiative giving the rCHWn Training Center recognition as a "Community Champion". She is also a recipient of the Shining Star Award from the United Way of Midland County. Her training sessions are known to be full of her engaging charisma and confidence, but most of all for her passion to help others see how they can influence their communities effectively. Her passionate message to fellow rCHWs throughout the country is that "training is available, necessary and valuable". She desires to help those in other communities realize they are CHW's.

As often time happens for CHWs, Andrea did not realize that she was doing the work of a CHW until Shannon pointed it out to her, then through training she went beyond her potential in understanding and effectiveness. Andrea has always had a natural passion to help others. Working on the truancy team for Bullock Creek Public Schools, she could see clearly that so many issues rural community members deal with, go much deeper than many people realize and her desire to do more grew continuously. She is now the visionary and creator of a program of The Rural Community Health Workers Network Training Center known as C.O.R.E (Community Outreach Resource Extension). The program's proof of concept site is based at Midland Missionary Church, a local church in the Lee Township area. This program has many successful facets to help in the community, including a community garden, food pantry and little free library.

The rCHWn Training Center just recently gained its non profit status and is currently building up their board of directors. Shannon Lijewski currently serves as the interim president, Keith Lijewski, also a CHW in the community, serves as treasurer, and Jessy Bordeau serves as secretary and is a passionate community advocate that is willing to stand up for those under served in the community. A goal is set for a future board of 10 members with at least 51 percent of directors being CHWs. It is important to the team that the board is constructed by those who know the heart and work of a CHW. A steering committee will also soon be organized.

If you are a CHW, are interested in the work of a CHW or even just wanting to stay connected to how CHWs are growing and the differences they are making, you're encouraged to become part of the network!
To do so please visit www.everydaylifechw.com/join-now.

The Rural Community Health Worker Network Training Canter in Sanford, MI is available as a free space for all CHWs to work and gather. This is an incredible resource as many CHWs do not have budgets to allow investment in personal offices or work spaces, and the aspect of being together with other CHWs is powerful.