CHW Solutions

Leading Minnesota's Refugee Health Promotion Services

CHW Solutions is lead provider of the Minnesota Resettlement Network’s Refugee Health Promotion services through funding from the Resettlement Programs Office at the Department of Human Services. CHW Solutions provides one-on-one and group Community Health Worker services to people under humanitarian protection in Minnesota. Our comprehensive health education, self-management skill building and community connection services support health, well-being and successful integration of refugees into Minnesota communities.

How we work with Refugees

A lady doing a site visit with questions prepared to ask

Health Education

Community Health Workers (CHWs) provide information about preventing and treating health conditions in partnership with patients’ health care teams. CHWs meet patients in their homes, at convenient places in the community, or over the phone, and spend time assuring refugees fully understand how to take care of their health needs.

A lady taking care of a older man

Self-management skills

Refugees with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes and heart disease have a role to play in managing these conditions so they can live lives to the fullest. Community Health Workers coach patients to set healthy lifestyle goals, and take steps to reach them.

Community Resource Connections

Community Health Workers are part of a network of agencies serving refugees’ unique needs. CHWs link patients with other agencies in the network, as well as with a wide variety of community resources addressing needs impacting health, including food, transportation, finances, housing and social connections.

Who are our refugee neighbors in Minnesota?

View an interactive map that shows the number of people with refugee status who have arrived in Minnesota over time by their country of origin.

Resource Links

DHS Refugee and Immigrant Helpline

Website link: Refugee and Immigrant Helpline
Help-line #: 1-800-814-4806
The navigators speak English, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili & Ukrainian
Language line > 240 languages
Email: dhs.rpo.helpline@state.mn.us

How can you help with refugees in our Community

For more ways to help refugees, visit International Rescue Committee for the complete list. 

Volunteer

You may be able to help welcome refugees by becoming an Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA) Community Partner. Working with the IRC, these partners take on responsibilities for resettlement such as securing housing, greeting and welcoming families, providing food and other basic necessities, and connecting refugees to education, English classes and employment.

Share refugee stories

Refugees and asylum seekers are people with lives we can all recognize. They are mothers and fathers, daughters and sons. They are neighbors, teachers, students, business owners and employees—including the essential workers keeping us safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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A young kid smiling at the camera

Welcome a refugee

Refugees moving to a new city face many challenges and stable housing can be hard to come by.Open your home to refugees in the U.S. in temporary need of shelter through IRC partner Airbnb. If you are a landlord, you can also help by renting to a newly-arrived refugee family.

Invest in a refugee’s future

Lend your support by frequenting local businesses run by refugees or by employing a refugee in your company and encouraging other businesses to do the same.

If you are seeking more ways and resources to help refugees, visit our sharing library to learn more!

Resettlement Network Service Providers

Resettlement Network logo

Check out the regions that offer family coaches, family assistants, community orientation workshops, immigration, and employment through Resettlement Network below!

Resettlement Network Services, a partnership funded by the Resettlement Programs Office at the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Check out the March 2023 Journal of General Internal Medicine supplement featuring a case study of CHW Solutions. 

Megan E colored bio image

CO - FOUNDER

Megan Ellingson (CHW, MHA)

Megan E.’s (she/her) expertise is in collaborative planning and implementation to address health issues requiring both clinic and community approaches. Megan’s professional experience includes serving as a Health Policy and Program Coordinator at the Minneapolis Health Department, and as a Department Manager in women’s services and pastoral care at Intermountain Healthcare. Her direct patient care experience includes serving as a Patient Advocate at MayView Community Health Center, as a Care Guide in late-life supportive care at Allina Health, and as a hospice volunteer with her therapy cat, Sweet Pea, at HealthPartners. Megan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Biology and Medical Anthropology from Stanford University, and a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration and Financial Management from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She also obtained her Minnesota CHW certificate from Northwest Technical College in 2018. Megan currently teaches the Minnesota CHW Certificate courses as an online instructor at St. Mary’s University in Minnesota.

Megan E colored bio image

CO - FOUNDER

Megan Ellingson (CHW, MHA)

Megan E.’s (she/her) expertise is in collaborative planning and implementation to address health issues requiring both clinic and community approaches. Megan’s professional experience includes serving as a Health Policy and Program Coordinator at the Minneapolis Health Department, and as a Department Manager in women’s services and pastoral care at Intermountain Healthcare. Her direct patient care experience includes serving as a Patient Advocate at MayView Community Health Center, as a Care Guide in late-life supportive care at Allina Health, and as a hospice volunteer with her therapy cat, Sweet Pea, at HealthPartners. Megan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Biology and Medical Anthropology from Stanford University, and a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration and Financial Management from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She also obtained her Minnesota CHW certificate in August, 2018. Megan currently teaches the Minnesota CHW Certificate courses as an online instructor at St. Mary’s University in Minnesota.