On the quiet, rugged shores of Deer Isle, Maine, where lobster traps outnumber streetlights and the sea is both a livelihood and a legacy, Stacey Roberts is a familiar face. But she’s more than just a neighbor — she’s a lifeline. For 27 years, Stacey has served her island community, first as a nurse and now as a community health worker (CHW), quietly transforming the way health care reaches those who need it most.

Stacey’s journey to Deer Isle began with friendship and loss. Originally trained as a nurse in Alabama, she followed her best friend, a physician, to Maine, where together they cared for the island’s residents until her friend’s passing from cancer.

“That has led me to opening up to other things,” Stacey reflects, her voice carrying both the weight of grief and the hope of new beginnings.

Today, Stacey’s role is unique. Sponsored by the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety and the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, she is the dedicated CHW for the island’s fishing community. Her office is in the old Stonington Schoolhouse, now a “connectivity hub” where resources, technology, and support converge for the community. But Stacey’s real work happens outside those walls: in the community, at local events, and wherever fishermen gather.

“They won’t always come to the office, but if I meet them out in the community, they’ll let me check their blood pressure,” she explained.

There are many barriers commercial fishermen face in accessing healthcare, such as scheduling within office hours and getting time off work. “This often means they have to wait until they’re really ill or something major happens before they end up in a physician’s office.”

Stacey’s mission is to reach them before crisis strikes, offering a listening ear, practical help, and a bridge to the care they might otherwise avoid.

CHWs, like Stacey, play a crucial role as liaisons between patients and health care providers, helping to bridge communication gaps that can otherwise leave important needs unmet. Stacey shared an example where a fisherman, frustrated after a visit with a physician, was unable to clearly express his real concerns during the appointment.

Stacey facilitated communication by having the patient sign a release, then speaking directly with the doctor to clarify the patient’s needs. This intervention quickly resolved the issue, highlighting how CHWs can translate between the languages of patients and providers, ensuring that care is both accessible and effective for those who might otherwise fall through the cracks.

Her work is deeply personal. “I love the fishermen, and this is something I can give to them, free of charge,” Stacey said. “I am so attached to who they are, that they’re strong, independent people who get out and do their best every day to make it through life.”

Stacey’s effectiveness as a CHW is rooted in her connection to the community. “I’ve always heard that people say that if you’re not born here, you’re not from here. Well, I’m not from here, but I am very much accepted by this community, and I know that this is home.”

Her transition from nursing to community health work was supported by MCD’s CHW Core Competency Training Program. “It gave me resources and how to connect to people, the networking skills, which was not something I did as a nurse,” Stacey shared. “That’s probably the biggest thing I do is connect people to resources.”

The training also opened her eyes to the broader social factors affecting health and the power of peer learning. “I loved talking with the other CHWs during the training, and we’re still connected long after it has ended. Seeing how much people are just trying to help, seeing that reflected in just about every person in that training class was tremendous to me.”

Stacey’s advice to anyone considering the CHW path is simple: “You’ve got to feel connected to it before you jump into it. If you’ve got that passion, then absolutely, please do it.”

Her story is a testament to the power of CHWs: people who know the language, the rhythms, and the struggles of the places they serve. Through her work, Stacey is not just improving health outcomes, she’s building trust, fostering resilience, and reminding her neighbors that they are not alone.

Stacey is one of more than 300 people who have completed the MCD CHW Core Competency Training Program, which offers the tools, knowledge, and community to make a difference one relationship at a time.

About MCD Global Health’s CHW Core Competency Training Program

This 80-hour training program includes a combination of self-paced online instruction, homework, live virtual group sessions, and field placements. The course covers fundamental skills and knowledge as well as health-specific content for health promotion and disease prevention. The practical field experience hours provide an opportunity to apply all that was learned.

Upon successful completion, students are eligible for continued education training in a wide variety of topics to continue their professional development. Students can also earn up to six academic credit hours toward an associate or bachelor’s degree through the University of Maine system.