Ambassadors Program

Specialty Health Ambassadors (SHAs): Launched in 2022, the Specialty Health Ambassadors play a crucial role in community outreach by leveraging their unique perspectives as residents having lived experience in navigating intellectual disabilities (IDDs). They serve as community educators for people with disabilities, raising awareness about various health services and bridging the gap between service providers and the community. Through informative presentations and targeted engagements, the SHAs provide valuable insights about the services, programs, and opportunities available through the Regional Center of the East Bay. The three key program goals and outcomes are:

• To educate and connect people with IDD to support and resources while advocating social change. 
• To educate and train community partners on how to better support people with IDD, through Community Education.
• To provide training, development opportunities, and continuing education to maximize job success, career pathways for the SHAs. 

Community Health Ambassadors (CHAs) partner with Contra Costa Health partners to empower community members to make informed decisions about their health. The primary population served within our program is comprised of historically marginalized populations. These may include individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, low-income households, minority groups, immigrants, refugees, non-English speakers, the undocumented, and other vulnerable populations across Contra Costa County. The goal is to decrease the equity gaps from COVID-19 vaccination rates and access to health resources in communities of color, underserved communities, and those disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic focusing on:

• Empowering community members
• Overcoming language barriers
• Proactive outreach to the underserved
• Radical accessibility

Workforce Health Ambassadors (WHAs): Launched in March 2023, the WHA program offers a 6-month opportunity offering full-time employment with benefits, prioritizing individuals between the ages of 18 to 30 living in Contra Costa County. The pillars of Exposure, Engagement, Professionalism, and Enrichment are used as guiding principles to ensure that every workforce health ambassador leaves the program confident in their professional abilities and public health knowledge. The goal is to build an on-ramp to health careers and provide tools for success, to contribute to a more diverse and equitable public health workforce. The WHA Program is designed to eliminate employment barriers for historically marginalized communities. Alongside having no prior participation in AmeriCorps, applicants must meet one of the five criteria below:

• Difficulty finding or maintaining employment
• Low-income
• Justice involved
• Youth transitioning from foster care
• Engaged with mental health or substance abuse treatment