About the Community Health Worker Network
The Community Health Worker Network (CHW-Network) is housed within the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Research Division at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
The department has a deep commitment to community health, and the CHW-Network reflects our mission to strengthen community-based care. Grounded in our longstanding dedication to underserved populations and collaborative outreach, the CHW-Network serves as a vital extension of research, education and service efforts aimed at improving health outcomes across communities.
Mission
Provide consulting and training services for medical and social organizations to create, promote and strengthen successful community health worker programs to improve the health and social outcomes in our communities across the country.
Vision
Organizations across the country have the resources necessary and a good understanding of their community health programs to better impact the communities.
Leadership
Ton Mirás Neira
CHW Network Co-Director
Ton Mirás Neira was born and raised in Galicia, Spain. He studied Sign Language Interpretation at the Universidade de Vigo and graduated with a specialized degree in the Psychosociology of the Deaf Community and Interpretation for the Deaf-blind. Ton worked actively as an interpreter with the Deaf and Deaf-blind community and became an official sign-language interpreter for the Spanish Parliament. Ton taught non-verbal communication and body expression at the University of Vigo in collaboration with their Dramatic Arts department.
Learn more about Ton Mirás Neira >
In 2012, Antonio moved to the US and began working as a Community Health Worker with KC CARE Health Center. His enterprising work with patients at the ER at The University of Kansas Hospital earned him the honor of KC CARE Health Center’s “Employee of the Year” for 2015.
Since 2016, Ton has been supervising a team of amazing Community Health Workers whose focus have been to assist the underserved population in Wyandotte County by empowering patients to get access to care and to address social needs amongst the African American, Refugee and Latino communities.
Ton has been the co-chair of the Kansas Coalition for Community Health Workers for three years, empowering other CHWs across Kansas, promoting education for CHWs and networking with different programs within the state.
Currently, Ton is the Project Manager of the COPE project at KUMC and is currently managing 60 CHWs in 20 different counties throughout Kansas to address clients’ social determinants of health and COVID-19 testing/vaccination.
- Groundbreaking work integrating CHWs into emergency room patient services and workflow.
- Executive Chair of the CHW Kansas Coalition 2015 -2018
- Certified CHW Train the Trainer in multiple states.
- Consultant to Wichita State University’s premier CHW programing.
- Developed CHW programming for hospitals, clinics, and community organizations, clinics, and specific hospital departments
- Certified as a CHW Supervisor by Mid-America Regional Council’s Government Training Institute
- Lead efforts to develop technological applications and databases designed for CHW management, project outcomes, and performance
- Chair of the CHW Collaborative Advocacy Committee
Angela Scott
CHW Network Co-Director
Angela Scott was born and raised in Dodge City, Kansas, and was inspired by necessity in a single-parent household observing her mother’s and grandmother’s resourcefulness. Angela began her career supporting individuals with disabilities. Her work evolved into long-term case management for individuals with complex needs, including elderly and individuals with traumatic brain injuries, helping assess and support independent living options.
Learn more about Angela Scott >
After relocating to Wichita and starting a family, Angela continued her work in independent living and expanded her focus to children, families, and education through the Head Start program. She also served in case management roles with Goodwill Industries.
Family later brought Angela to Leavenworth, Kansas, where she continued her work in community support and care navigation. Through contract work with the The University of Kansas Hospital Emergency Department, she helped patients navigate insurance and access needed services.
Today, Angela serves as the field supervisor for CHWs deployed across the state with several initiatives. Most notable, her role with the COPE project is to develop, implement, and manage the CHW program for 20 of Kansas’ 105 counties.
As a CHW supervisor she is instrumental in assisting with the development of database for CHWs and provided guidance on workflows for CHWs.
For Angela, the most rewarding part of her role is providing guidance, coaching, education, and applying best practices to assess individual and community needs.
In over her 6 years in the industry, Angela has supervised CHWs at KC Care Health Center in Kansas City, Missouri, where she was also responsible for overseeing Community Health Worker partnerships with Children’s Mercy Hospital, and other community-based organizations in the Kansas City Metro area. In her role as a CHW supervisor she served on a consultant team that provided education and training on how to implement Community Health Worker programs. Angela has served as a HUB team member for CHW Missouri ECHO and also has a background in service coordination for children and persons with disabilities. Her experience also includes experience in working with the Medicaid programs in both Kansas and Missouri.
- Executive Chair of the CHW Kansas Coalition
- Consultant for Development of CHW programs in Kansas
- Development team for CHW database
- Supervised CHWs in community and clinical settings
- Overseen CHW program partnership with Children's Mercy Hospital in KCMO
- Certification for CHW Supervisor-Mid-America Regional Council
- Development of CHW Workflows on various projects
- Insurance navigation in the ED
- Home & Community Based Independent Living Counselor Certification