Meet Our Coordinating Council

Our Team

The Community Health Workers Association of Delaware (CHWAD) is a membership of people working together to improve the health and health outcomes of Delawareans. Collectively, we represent over 35 diverse organizations, agencies and sectors statewide and have a combined experience of over 21 years supporting our neighbors and communities in addressing the social determinants of health to ensure that all have equitable access to reach their full health potential.

Meet the team that make up our Coordinating Council

Dawn Ferguson

Chair

Dawn brings dual expertise to her role at Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing, where she has served as a Community Health Worker since June 2018. Working with both the men’s shelter and Dover Interfaith Mission Resource Center, she focuses on supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, those with very low to no income, and community members facing housing instability.

Her comprehensive approach to community health is enhanced by her extensive background in veterinary medicine, where she has worked as a Licensed Veterinary Technician for 31 years across both general and emergency settings. This unique combination of healthcare experience allows her to bring a holistic perspective to her work in community health, serving some of Dover’s most vulnerable populations.

Nanny Vega-Morales

Vice Chair & Training Committee Chair

Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Nanny has dedicated her career to bridging healthcare gaps in diverse communities. Her academic background includes a BA from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, complemented by an MBA from the University of Phoenix. With more than 15 years of experience in the health system, she currently applies her expertise at Quality Insights, where she serves dual roles as a Community Health Worker in the Maternal Health project and as a Health Coach in the Wisewoman program.

Her work focuses particularly on serving the Hispanic community, where she has established herself as a crucial link between community members and vital healthcare resources. Nanny’s passion for working directly with women in the Hispanic community has become a hallmark of her professional approach, enabling her to effectively identify and address the unique health needs of this population. Her dual role allows her to comprehensively support women’s health initiatives while ensuring cultural sensitivity and appropriate resource allocation.

Maite Aros

Treasurer

As the Domestic Violence Community Health Advocate Program Coordinator at CHILD, Inc., Maite leads a groundbreaking collaborative pilot project uniting multiple healthcare institutions including CHILD, Inc., DCADV, Christiana Care, Westside Family Health, and St. Frances Hospital. This initiative uniquely approaches domestic violence as a public health issue, recognizing its impact across all socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, and gender backgrounds. With nearly three decades of experience in domestic violence services, Maite brings comprehensive expertise to her role, supported by a five-year bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

Her career encompasses extensive work as a domestic violence shelter manager, bilingual hotline counselor, case manager, and advocate, demonstrating her commitment to serving underserved populations. She further extends her impact as a group facilitator for the Spanish-Speaking Domestic Violence Counseling Intervention Program and as a Parenting Education instructor. Her excellence in the field has been recognized with the 2018 Elaine Aviola Memorial Award for Outstanding Professional, and she holds a DCADV Domestic Violence Specialist certification from 2006.

Donna Monroe

Secretary

Donna currently serves as the Health Program Coordinator for the Division of Public Health Lead Poison Prevention Program, bringing a diverse background in healthcare and social services to her role. Her professional journey includes significant experience as a training administrator with the Division of Social Services, building upon a robust 30-year career in the insurance industry. Donna’s academic credentials include a BA in Humanities, earned cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MS in Health Promotion from the University of Delaware.

Donna’s commitment to community health is further demonstrated through her certification as a Community Health Worker from the Sickle Cell Association of America. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Donna dedicates her personal time to establishing a Sickle Cell Association in Delaware, showcasing her dedication to expanding healthcare resources in the state. Her unique combination of administrative experience, academic achievement, and healthcare expertise positions her to effectively coordinate and advance public health initiatives.

Erin Ridout

Advocacy Committee Chair & Social Media Representative

In her role as Domestic Violence and Community Health Program Manager for the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCADV), Erin combines her expertise in social work with public health advocacy. Her position involves managing an integrated CHW service delivery model while actively engaging in policy advocacy for Community Health Worker sustainability. Erin’s educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies from the University of Mary Washington, a Master’s degree in Social Work from UNC Chapel Hill, and a Master’s of Public Health from the University of Delaware, completed in 2021 with a focus on health equity policy and practice.

Her professional experience encompasses work with children and families addressing abuse and neglect, provision of in-home therapeutic counseling, and service in domestic violence shelters. This comprehensive background enables Erin to effectively collaborate with community partners in addressing domestic violence as a public health issue, bringing a trauma-informed, policy-oriented approach to her advocacy work.

Adriana Viveros-Sosa

Resource Committee Co-Chair

Adriana Viveros-Sosa is a passionate advocate for community health and a dedicated mother of four. Born in Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, Adriana moved to the United States at the age of nine. Growing up in a family where her parents did not speak English, Adriana quickly became their interpreter, navigating complex systems and policies to ensure they had access to the resources they needed. This experience fostered her deep understanding of the importance of giving voice to the marginalized and inspired her to pursue a career dedicated to empowering others.

Adriana currently serves as the Lead for Resources at the Community Health Worker Association of Delaware, where she is committed to promoting the Association to all organizations and community members. She actively works to ensure that Community Health Workers (CHWs) are supported and equipped with the necessary tools and resources to serve their communities effectively. Adriana’s vision is to build strong partnerships that will elevate the work of CHWs and ensure that their invaluable contributions are recognized and celebrated across the state.

A champion for those who are often overlooked, Adriana’s mission is to give strength to individuals who want to be seen and heard. She works tirelessly to ensure that no one falls through the cracks. “I give a voice to those who want to be heard,” she says, “and I will move mountains to make sure everyone gets the same information and resources.” She is passionate about creating a lasting memento of the power and impact of community health work, and deeply believes in the importance of the CHW Association of Delaware.

Adriana also serves as the Community Health Worker Liaison at the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, where she provides vital wrap-around services, health literacy support, and advocacy for individuals facing breast cancer. In this role, Adriana attends doctor’s appointments with patients, assists with healthcare navigation, and ensures that individuals receive the care and compassion they deserve during difficult times.

Additionally, Adriana has worked as a Program Coordinator for Christiana Care’s Health Ambassador Program, where she used her life experience to help bridge gaps in healthy lifestyle access. As a board member for AIDS Delaware, she continues to advocate for social justice, health equity, and the needs of underserved communities.

A DACA recipient, Adriana is no stranger to the barriers faced by immigrants in the United States. She has channeled her personal experiences into a lifelong mission to break down those barriers for others, advocating for systemic change in healthcare and beyond. Her work is deeply rooted in maternal health and social determinants of health, with a special focus on ensuring that everyone—regardless of background—has access to the resources they need to thrive.

Above all, Adriana’s most cherished role is as a mother, and she strives every day to be a positive role model for her children, showing them the importance of hard work, compassion, and advocacy.

Rona Harris

Resource Committee Co-Chair

Catalina Figueroa

Catalina’s career in community health began in 2001 when she pioneered as the first outreach worker/”Promotora” for La Red Health Center. Her role evolved to supervise the comprehensive Outreach team, overseeing multiple crucial departments including Promotoras, the HIV/STD department, Health Ambassadors, and Homeless Case Management.

Her approach to community service was shaped by her upbringing, where she learned that addressing neighbors’ needs was a collective responsibility. This philosophy has guided her professional practice and leadership style. Beyond her professional commitments, Catalina maintains balance through family time, caring for her dog, Hershey, and pursuing her interest in gardening, demonstrating the importance of personal wellbeing in sustainable community service.

Delsy Morales

Delsy brings over a decade of community outreach experience to her current position as Program Manager for Community Health Workers at ChristianaCare. She received a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Springfield College before beginning her career in 2010 at Henrietta Johnson Medical Center as a Patient Navigator and Health Ambassador. There, she specialized in connecting mothers with essential resources throughout their pregnancy journey. Her career progression at ChristianaCare has included roles as Community Educator for the Alliance for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Community Health Program Coordinator, where she managed multiple community-based programs.

This varied experience has equipped her with comprehensive knowledge of maternal health resources and community program management, enabling her to effectively lead and support Community Health Worker initiatives.

Corinthia Elliott

Corinthia serves as Senior Social Worker/Case Manager and Field Investigator with the Delaware Division of Public Health’s Community Health section. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science with a minor in Education from Wilmington University, specializing in supporting families and young adults with developmental disabilities.

Her role combines investigative responsibilities with direct service provision, utilizing her educational background to effectively serve vulnerable populations. Corinthia’s work demonstrates the intersection of social work, public health, and educational support in creating comprehensive community health solutions.

Become a Member

Join the Community Health Workers Association of Delaware (CHWAD) to advocate for health equity and social justice alongside fellow Community Health Workers (CHWs), allies, and partners committed to educating, empowering and supporting our communities. The CHWAD offers training, resources, collaboration, care and support for the CHWs of Delaware.