Date: Thursday October 8th and Friday October 9th, 2026
Location: Campus of Minnesota West Community and Technical Collage | Worthington, Minnesota
Theme: Hands On, Hearts In: Practicing the Skills That Power Rural CHW Work
Learning Objectives:
- Practice hands‑on skills that power rural CHW work. Attendees will engage in hands‑on, interactive learning to practice core Community Health Worker skills—such as motivational interviewing, suicide risk assessment, deep listening, and trauma‑responsive communication—rooted in the realities, relationships, and resource contexts of rural communities.
- Showcase CHW‑informed best practices that strengthen program implementation. Attendees will advance understanding and discussion of CHW‑centered programs and practices that empower CHWs to co‑create initiatives, influence program design and implementation, and integrate lived experience and community knowledge through supportive organizational structures.
- Strengthen the big tent of CHW work through inclusion and belonging. Attendees will be able to recognize and affirm the full scope of the CHW workforce, ensuring this conference reflects, values, and is for everyone doing heart‑centered community health work including certificate‑holding and non‑certificate‑holding CHWs, Community Health Representatives (CHRs), Promotoras, and related community‑based roles.
Location:
Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Worthington Campus
1450 College Way
Worthington, Minnesota
Free parking will be available on the Minnesota West Community and Technical College campus. The exhibitor hall and Plenaries will be in the Commons; exhibitors may park in the South Parking Lot; all other attendees will park in the North Parking Lot
Schedule Overview:
| Thursday October 8th 2026 | Friday October 9th 2026 | ||
| Check-in, exhibitors | 10am-11am | Zumba with Luz! | 7:30-8:15am |
| Plenary | 11am | Breakfast, exhibitors | 8:00-9am |
| Lunch with activity | noon | Breakout sessions (2) | 9:15-11:15am |
| Breakout sessions (2) | 1:30-3:15pm | Exhibitors | 11-11:45am |
| Exhibitors | 3:15-3:30pm | Lunch line | 11:45-12pm |
| Plenary | 3:30-4:30 | Plenary during lunch | 12-1pm |
| Off Site Social Gathering | 5:30-7:30 | Close | 1pm |
Conference Participant Evaluation
Please complete this brief evaluation of your experience of the 2026 Rural CHW Conference.
Click here for lodging details
There are a few lodging options for the Rural CHW Conference. There is a secured a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn Express in Worthington, MN. Those details as well as details for other options are listed below.
Holiday Inn Express
1250 Ryan’s Rd, Worthington, MN 56187
Phone: 507-372-2333
Website: ihg.com
Book by September 7, 2026 to receive the group discount
Book by phone: Call 507-372-2333 and let the booking agent know you are a part of the CHW Conference. If necessary reference Christine Bullerman and/or Vanesa Logan (the hotel’s General Manager)
Book online: Visit ihg.com. Make sure to choose Worthington, MN (not OH) and then select group rate and put in CHW (screen shot below for reference). There are 20 rooms for each night.
Historic Dayton House
1311 4th Ave, Worthington, MN 56187
Phone: 507-727-1311
Website: Historic Dayton House
Airbnb – Historic Lake Getaway
Worthington, MN
Website: History Lake Getaway
This Airbnb rental typically has three rooms available for booking.
Presentation Proposals:
The 2026 Minnesota Statewide CHW Conference Presenter Application is now closed
Sponsorship and Conference Exhibitors
MNCHWA relies on conference sponsorships and exhibitors to ensure that the cost of the conference does not prevent any CHW or CHW ally from attending. We greatly appreciate any organization who is excited to sponsor this conference!
Conference sponsorship and exhibitor information can be found here.
Thank you to our sponsors!
