The Tennessee Medical Association Board of Trustees and House of Delegates recognized individual physician members and other organizations for exceptional leadership, contributions to medicine, and community service in Nashville. La Paz Chattanooga was honored for their contribution to the medical community with a Community Service Award.
La Paz is the leading Hispanic/Latino organization in Chattanooga and the organization has been working to empower and engage the Latino community since 2004.
La Paz Chattanooga started the Promotores de Salud (Community Health Worker) program in 2007. Jessica Cliché is the Health and Wellness director and is an educator and counselor. In the last three years La Paz has successfully used the Promotores de Salud (Community Health Worker) model to provide ongoing nutritional training, workshops, individualized intensive case management, consultation and referral for more than 520 Latinos.
Ms. Cliche has received many educational certifications to better herself to include a certification to teach the Spanish version of Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self-Management 6-week Program, which was the first Spanish version taught in Tennessee.
She is training four Promotores de Salud (Client Leaders) this year and each leader gives over 500 hours a year to the organization and the community.
The Tennessee Medical Association is the state’s largest professional association for physicians. They work to improve the health of Tennessee by bringing all physicians together in efforts to continually improve effectiveness of physician care and ensure proper policy to serve the best interests of patients and the profession.
“We have seen our clients gain a better understanding of their health condition, whether it's a chronic disease or pregnancy," said Stacy Johnson, executive director of La Paz. "We hear stories of them cooking healthy meals for their families and we see the activity levels go up. They love to learn and we know our program is working.
“But, for others to see and honor us is the encouragement and support we need to continue this important work. Thank you to the Tennessee Medical Association for recognizing our work. It was truly an honor to accept the community service award.”