The Snohomish County Health Department recently completed a six-month Community Navigator Pilot Program designed to redefine what collaboration in public health can look like.
Launched in January 2025, the program brought together 12 community-based organizations and 64 Community Navigators who were trained, supported and financially compensated. Each group brought deep local ties and cultural expertise, helping amplify voices from rural, refugee, low-income, youth and other communities.
“The program aimed to build a cultural bridge between communities and the Health Department, fostering health and wellness in ways that respect and reflect the unique values and needs of the populations we serve,” said Pia Sampaga-Khim, assistant director for prevention services. “Additionally, it sought to better understand these communities' specific needs and explore how public health resources can be more effectively aligned to support them.”
Navigators had the autonomy to choose how, when and where to engage, reflecting their communities’ distinct preferences, values and experiences. Each navigator could be paid for up to 60 hours per month.
In just six months, the pilot:
- Enabled community-led events related to public health, including one reaching up to 1,500 participants.
- Supported the creation of culturally tailored health education materials in multiple languages.
- Hosted monthly trainings and networking workshops covering topics such as mental health, substance use prevention, chronic disease and emergency preparedness.
Additionally, navigators were offered optional trainings on public health issues such as suicide prevention, youth dental care and dementia. Some took part in a digital storytelling project to share their voices, experiences and to amplify public health topics important to their community.
“Community-based organizations work tirelessly to keep communities in Snohomish County safe and healthy,” said Cristina Ciupitu-Plath, healthy communities supervisor. “It was a privilege to connect with our partners to learn about and support the important work they do every day. We appreciate their trust, honor their contributions to public health, and look forward to expanding our partnership in the future.”
Meet the Partners
The program, which ended June 30 and was supported with federal funds, partnered with a diverse group of organizations:
- Center for Human Services (CHS)
- Volunteers of America Western Washington (VOAWW)
- Project Girl Mentoring Program
- Nashi Immigrants Health Board (NASHI)
- Marshallese Association of North Puget Sound
- Oceania Northwest
- Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington (KCSC)
- Well Being Community Center
- Washington West African Center (WAWAC)
- Latino Educational Training Institute (LETI)
- Pacific Islander Health Board of WA
- North Counties’ Family Services (NCFS).
The program was supported by an interdisciplinary Health Department team of an assistant director, a program supervisor, a health equity policy analyst, two health educators and an epidemiologist.
Initial feedback showed that the navigator model improved public health reach, built trust and allowed meaningful engagement. Navigators not only distributed Health Department materials but also personalized and contextualized them.
Community Voices: Favorite Moments from the Pilot
Participants reflected on a few highlights:
- “Seeing community members feel genuinely understood and supported after receiving materials in their native language for the first time.” – Community Navigator
- “Having done this kind of work for many years, it has been a true blessing to witness this level of partnership and shared commitment. The collaboration has been fruitful.” – Karina Gasperin, Well Being Community Center
- “Seeing a parent celebrate successfully enrolling their child in kindergarten with support from the group. It reflected the power of community, trust and shared learning.” – Community Navigator
- “My favorite experience was leading a culturally tailored women's health workshop and seeing how engaged and appreciative the participants were.” – Svitlana Kryshtanovska, RN, Nashi Immigrants Health Board
- “Watching each participant present their six-week video project during the last session of the digital storytelling training was truly emotional and inspiring.” – Meeran Sung, Korean Community Service Center
The Health Department and partner organizations are reflecting on what worked, areas for improvement, and future opportunities. The insights from this pilot will shape future efforts, ensuring that equity, trusted messengers and community-driven strategies remain at the heart of public health in Snohomish County.