Malitsa Santiago has worked in the healthcare field for several years, as a medical assistant and a medical billing specialist. Now she is employed as a bilingual community health worker (CHW) in the Baby Bump Program at the Alta Care Group in Youngstown, Ohio, and she is working to earn her Community Health Worker certification from the Kent State College of Public Health.
“I chose to complete the CHW training program because I feel that it is important to gain as much knowledge as possible to better help and serve my community,” says Santiago. “Continuing education is important because there is always something new to learn, and I want to ensure that I meet all the requirements necessary and to gain as much knowledge as possible to better serve the underserved population. I have a passion for helping others, advocating, educating and providing support and encouragement to individuals.”
In her CHW role at Baby Bump, Santiago provides services to pregnant women and assists them in establishing healthy lifestyles for healthy pregnancies.
“There is a need for more bilingual Community Health Workers to help support the Hispanic population in my community. Language barriers need to be addressed to ensure that individuals are getting their needs met,” she adds. “Also, to ensure that they understand how to navigate the health care system and use the community resources that are available to them.”
Santiago is a staunch supporter of the Community Health Worker program at Kent State. “The CHW training program at Kent State University is an excellent program for anyone that is interested in becoming a community health worker. Although it is an online course, students can engage in discussions with other classmates and share each other’s viewpoints and experiences. This helps students learn from one another,” she states. “As CHWs, we encounter some cases that can be very challenging. I believe that with patience, understanding, and determination, we can work together to help families improve their health and well-being to achieve their goals and full potential,” concludes Santiago.