FARE for CHWs

Atara Estes, the newest Board of Directors of the National Association of Community Health Workers. As a community health worker, social justice advocate, holistic health and wellness coach professional as well as a leadership development specialist. She delivers on empathy, gratitude, delegation, courage, respect, integrity, influence, communication, thinking, acting systemically, self-awareness, learning agility, and resilience. Although, Atara is a true survivor of her own life experiences, and she wears many personal and professional hats. She leads by example of wanting the best for the community she is serving and representing. Atara has worked for St. Louis Integrated Health Network, St. Louis, MO since December 2016 – present. She served for the Re-entry Community Linkages (RE-LINK). This program allowed Atara along with her team to successfully elevate RE-LINK which is an initiative of the St. Louis Integrated Health Network that seeks to improve health outcomes for disadvantaged populations, particularly those racially and economically under-supported, as they transition from jail back home. RE-LINK strategies address social determinants of health, reduce health inequities, and prevent a return to the justice system, offering both group and one-on-one support based on the needs of each individual client. Centering the Community Health Worker (CHW) Model, we have a team of CHWs who serve as advocates and navigators to and through various systems for participants. Together, participants work alongside a CHW to develop individualized, comprehensive success plans spanning across clinical, social, personal, and interpersonal challenges. RE-LINK is an opt-in program, requiring commitment from the participant. Ultimately, with the high-touch approach demonstrated by CHWs, participants move toward self-actualization, ensuring their ability to thrive - versus survive. During her time the results serving in the City of St. Louis, ages 18 – 26 from 2016 - 2021: 30% enrolled in degree, certificate, or vocational programs, 97% of our clients have not returned to jail, 15% of our clients utilize mental health wrap-around services with our support, 40% of our clients report an improved health status, and 63% of our clients show an increase in sustained employment. Our team also had a 72% appointment-kept rate employment readiness, social support, & medical services, $1,331,766 approximate cost savings for the City of St. Louis, 278% approximate return on investment, 87% program participants with substance use history and 35% indicated substance use was triggered by mental distress. I had the pleasure of creating a pre-release curriculum for RELINK Course Program that kept the participants empowered, engaged, enlightened, enriched, enabled, and educated on what to expect when returning to the community. Atara fulfilled her mission when the program began receiving reviews for best practices due to the improved health and wellness outcomes among the justice involved. In 2023, Atara was promoted to the CHW Leadership Development Specialist. Atara is a part of the regional CDC-funded CHW Workforce project which aims to bolster the power and impact of CHW’s in her region and state. Atara works with regional partners and CHW employers to cultivate talent strategies that focus on CHW retention and career ladders. She also mentors CHWs enrolled through the apprenticeship program. In 2016, Atara graduated in one of the first CHW certification cohorts. In 2017, she became the first CHW to co-chair Heal Regional Partnerships. In 2018, she was a founding member of the St. Louis CHW Coalition Board of Leaders and in 2019 the first inaugural now past president of the Community Health Worker Association of Missouri. She is a credentialed Community Health Worker Instructor for the St. Louis Community College for the Community Health Workers Workforce. Atara demonstrates an unflinching heart when it comes to advocacy and policy for the community health workers workforce and other social justice issues that are dear to her heart. She is affiliated with numerous efforts in the St. Louis region, and she is a trailblazing leading member to involve her efforts with others to help reach a common goal. Health equity and racial justice. Atara serves as a representative on the Advisory board/committee for the Regional Health Commission and Policy Committee. Atara is a Steering Committee Member of the COVID-19 Regional Response Team. She serves for the St. Louis Violence Commission: Community Engagement, Policy & Systems Change and was co-chair for Racial Equity Focus. Creating violence prevention solutions that address racial inequity and systemic/structural racism. She served as a member of the Public Health Committee and member of the American Public Health Association (APHA). She co-chaired the CHW section for the Policy Committee. She has been a presenter, and moderator, and volunteers her services and expertise under the Community Health Planning & Policy Development, Community Health Section and Mental Health, Human Rights Forum for the APHA. This is where it all began for Atara personally to where she is today. She served as a Court Watch for the St. Louis Ending Violence Against Women Network, a Victims advocate for the St. Louis County Domestic Violence Court, and Crime Victims Center, and a Teen Educator for Break the Cycle. Atara serves with Alive and Well Communities as a Community Consultant reaching the community by facilitating trauma-informed workshops and Healing Circles. Atara was born and raised in Chicago and attended high school in New York City. She lived homeless in both cities and was in foster care for a period in New York City. Atara is a single parent of two beautiful daughters. She survived being blindfolded, shot in the back execution style, thrown into the trunk, and left for dead 21 years ago. Her life has never been the same. She has always been a warrior and leader but in all her struggles she still got back up due to a strong will to live and strive for better for the sake of her faith and daughters. She believes that we can heal our communities together and thrive after trauma unashamed. It is time to build political relationships and bridge the gap for the sake of us all. She is looking forward to investing her time with the board and to seeing what greatness comes from us and for us all.