Establishing Community Health Workers in South Dakota

Megan Jacobson serves as the Chronic Disease Management Field Specialist for South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension. In her role, she facilitates trainings and workshops as a certified Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) Master Trainer and assists in managing a suite of evidence-based, community-led health programs across South Dakota through the Better Choices, Better Health® SD (BCBH-SD) network. Since 2014, she has facilitated over 20 workshops and 5 CDSMP Lay Leader Trainings. She collaborates with a team to provide outreach, training, and education, including a statewide Volunteer Coordinator, Engagement & Enrollment Coordinator, and Community Health Educators that understand the needs of the rural, underserved, and diverse populations in which they live and work. Recent efforts have involved the creation of a cultural considerations guide for implementing CDSMP in tribal communities in South Dakota as well as the expansion of Tomando Control de su Salud through the hiring of a Bilingual Community Educator and increased training opportunities for Spanish Speaking populations. Megan is excited for the future and committed to helping the BCBH® SD network continue to provide high quality, effective, and accessible resources for South Dakotan adults impacted by chronic disease. 

Lori Oster is the Program Director for Better Choices, Better Health SD (BCBH-SD), South Dakota’s statewide suite of Self-Management Education programs. Established in 2014, BCBH-SD has grown to become a recognized chronic disease prevention resource. Though collaboration with a variety of local, state, and national partners, BCBH-SD now offers six different evidence-based programs to help adults manage their chronic conditions. Lori is a registered nurse and has coordinated the development, growth, and sustainment of BCBH-SD since its planning began in 2013.

Ben Tiensvold has served as the lead contact for the Community Health Worker Collaborative – South Dakota (CHWSD) since its inception in January 2020. He has led the CHWSD through significant growth over the first two years, in part to the CDC Health Disparities Grant funding the SD Department of Health received in June of 2022. Ben is also a Project Coordinator with Sage Project Consultants, has worked with the SD Department of Health and SD Department of Social Services to develop CHW reimbursement. He is passionate about the CHW profession and works to be an ally for all CHWs in South Dakota and across the country.  Ben has Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communication Studies and Public Relations from Southwest Minnesota State University and is currently pursuing his Master of Public Health degree from New Mexico State University.

Laura Harmelink MSN, RN, LNHA serves as the Community Outreach Coordinator for Better Choices Better Health SD and partner to CHWSD. She has spent her career convening interdisciplinary teams and collaborating, mentoring, advising, and coaching students across the professions of medicine, nursing, social work and healthcare administration. Laura has worked with the Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS) and the American Hospital Association (AHA) utilizing her leadership skills as Improvement Advisor for South Dakota on the Partnership for Patients/Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) Collaborative alongside 34 states, together, successfully improving patient safety, reducing harm and readmission rates across the country.