resiliency

The genesis of the youth Community Health Worker (CHW) and Citizen/Community Science (CS) training is rooted in interdisciplinary research and the lived experiences of families in Chicago and Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Mendenhall and colleagues’ (Drs. Robinson, Roberts and Rodriquez-Zas) South Chicago’s Black Mothers’ Resiliency Project provide dinsights into Black women’s experiences with genomics, trauma, and community science. Black women’s testimonies highlighted the health impacts of living in neighborhoods with high levels of gun violence and the resilience strategies they employ. This led to the development of a youth-centered CHW and CS training program, aimed at addressing health disparities. The program trained high school students and young adults (up to age 24) as CHWs and CSs, focusing on the objectives of (1) embedding culturally competent health workers in marginalized communities; (2) amplifying community voices; (3) collecting, analyzing, and quantifying observational data to inform policy decision-making; (4) amplifying community voices in healthcare discussions and (5) creating community health care worker training certification for youth. Over three years, the program trained over 50 participants, incorporating elements of wellness, art, and entrepreneurship.Based on ethnographic notes participants reported increases in wellness such as reduced anxiety and increased empowerment. The program’s long-term goals include creating employment opportunities for graduates and contributing to improved community health outcomes. This initiative represents a step towards addressing racial trauma and promoting community healing through youth-led innovation and empowerment.

As addiction counselors suffer from Burnout (BO) and Compassion Fatigue (CF), turnover rates increase and subsequently, there are fewer addiction counselors available to provide care for those experiencing addiction. A qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was conducted to interview addiction counselors believed to be resilient to BO and CF. All nine participants held the Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) certification awarded by the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP) and worked in addiction counseling for five years minimum. Previous studies show only 58% of addiction counselors remain in the field for five or more years and 29% maintain their current job for 5 or more years (therefore resiliency in this sample was inferred). Identified themes relating to resiliency factors were gleaned and implications were explored.