Providing Answers, Support and Hope in Wisconsin
Community Health Worker Lupus Education and Resource Hub
The Lupus Foundation of America’s (LFA) Community Health Worker (CHW) hub was created to increase awareness of lupus and knowledge of resources available.
The CHW hub features on-demand learning modules to increase CHW’s knowledge about lupus including the signs and symptoms, treatments, resources and support available to those living with lupus.
As a frontline public health professional with shared life experience, trust, compassion, cultural and value alignment with the communities where you live and serve, we hope that you will find value in this training content and will use it to educate and support those that you serve.
We appreciate you taking the time to complete the on-demand training modules in order to learn more. Together we can work towards the goal of reducing the time to diagnosis as well as improving the overall quality of life of those living with lupus.
- Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease
- It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with, and a challenge to treat
- Lupus has a range of symptoms, and strikes without warning
- Learn the basics of understanding lupus by completing this module, including:
- What is lupus?
- Who gets lupus?
- What causes lupus?
- What are the types of lupus?
- There are many challenges to reaching a lupus diagnosis
- Lupus is known as “the great imitator” because symptoms can mimic many other illnesses
- And to complicate diagnosis, there’s no single test that can give doctors a “yes” or “no” answer
- In module 2, you’ll learn the answers to the following questions:
- This module will answer the following:
- Why is lupus difficult to diagnose?
- How long does it take to get a lupus diagnosis?
- How is lupus diagnosed?
- What type of tests are used in the diagnosis process?
- Treating lupus can be just as difficult as getting a diagnosis
- Treatments depend on things like age, lifestyle and other health conditions
- Sometimes it can take months or even years to find the right combination of treatment options
- The right treatment is key in helping to keep lupus symptoms under control
- In this module, you’ll learn:
- What type of doctor treats lupus?
- What are the goals of treatment?
- What types of medication are commonly prescribed for lupus?
- How many medications were developed specifically for lupus?
- Lupus can make every day life challenging
- Living with lupus can be difficult, and it’s normal for someone with lupus to feel overwhelmed especially at first
- The good news is there’s a lot of recommendations you can provide to someone with lupus so that they can stay on top of their health and manage their symptoms
- By the end of this module, you’ll be able to answer:
- What is the burden of lupus?
- What are the most difficult parts of coping with lupus?
- What lifestyle considerations are important in lupus?
- Now that you have lupus knowledge, how can you help the communities you serve?
- The Lupus Foundation of America has numerous programs and services available to help those living with lupus (or even those supporting a friend or loved with that is living with the disease)
- By completing module 5, you’ll improve your confidence in LFA resources available to those living with lupus and learn ways to refer individuals to these programs and resources
You can also access special topic modules that build on the core series and take a closer look at specific topics that may be helpful in your work with people living with lupus.
- Lupus can affect many different parts of the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, brain, blood and other organs and body systems.
- The way lupus affects the body can vary from person to person, and some symptoms or complications may not always be visible.
- Understanding the different ways lupus can affect the body can help Community Health Workers better support people living with lupus.
- In this module, you’ll learn:
- How can lupus affect different parts of the body?
- What symptoms may be associated with different body systems?
- Why can lupus look different from one person to another?
- How can CHWs support people who experience new or changing symptoms?
- Living with lupus can affect a person’s mental and emotional well-being in many different ways.
- Mental and emotional changes may be related to lupus itself, medications used to treat lupus, the challenges of living with a chronic illness, other life circumstances or a combination of factors.
- Community Health Workers can play an important role in recognizing concerns, providing support and connecting people with appropriate resources.
- In this module, you’ll learn:
- How can lupus affect mental and emotional well-being?
- What are common signs of stress, depression and anxiety in people with lupus?
- How can you recognize when someone with lupus may need additional support?
- How can CHWs listen, provide support and connect people with lupus with appropriate resources?
Share resources in your community
National Resource Center on Lupus
As a trusted resource, CHWs often receive requests from members of their community and even partners for health information. The LFA’s National Resource Center on Lupus is a living library of curated content such as toolkits, guides, fact sheets and additional resources are available to complement your education and support of members of your community.
Visit the National Resource Center on Lupus to find more.
Understanding lupus
- Be Fierce. Take Control. Awareness Campaign
- What is Lupus? (English | Español)
- What is Lupus Video (English | Español)
- Common Symptoms (English | Español)
- Could it be Lupus Questionnaire (English | Español)
- How is Lupus Diagnosed (English | Español)
- Lupus Symptom Tracker
- The Pathway to a Medical Diagnosis
Self-management resources and tools
- Strategies for Managing Pain (English | Español)
- Strategies for Managing Fatigue (English | Español)
- Understanding Your Medications
- Medication Used to Treat Lupus
- Getting the Most from Your Medical Appointments
- Take Charge: a self-help email series in English
- Tome Control: a self-help email series in Spanish
- SELF Program
Health education specialists
Our health education specialists are specially trained to provide people affected by lupus with free non-medical support, disease education, information and helpful resources. You have lupus, but you are not alone. Ask a Health Education Specialist
Local resources
We are dedicated to providing support to individuals living with lupus wherever they live through our network of chapters across the country. Find local events, news and more for you and members of your community.