Building and Sustaining Community Health Worker Programs in California — A Resource Center

Published

Tools to help California managed care plans, providers, and community-based organizations deliver community health worker, promotor, and representative (CHW/P/R) services funded through Medi-Cal.

Community health workers, promotores, and community health representatives (CHW/P/Rs) deliver culturally responsive, person-centered, and evidence-based services that connect health and social care — helping people navigate systems, access services, and address unmet needs. 

As Medi-Cal managed care plans and community providers expand access to CHW/P/R services, they need practical resources to build, manage, and sustain this workforce. This resource center curates tools, research, and guidance to support the design, implementation, and long-term sustainability of CHW/P/R programs. Use the filters below to explore resources by topic. To suggest a resource for inclusion, complete the resource center content submission form.

See also a glossary of key terms used throughout the resource center. More resources about the CHW/P/R workforce can be found on the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) website.

Acknowledgments

With support from CHCF, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) curated topics and reviewed content for this resource center. CHCF and CHCS are grateful to the organizations whose work is featured here. Learn more

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Tip Sheet

Tip Sheet: Evaluating and Measuring CHW/P/R Programs and Activities

Highlights how CHW/P/R programs and services are evaluated, the value of having standards and measures to assess the quality of these programs, and limitations in the available measurement approaches.

Center for Health Care Strategies•
Tip Sheet

Tip Sheet: How to Apply the CHW/P/R Training Program Best Practices Framework

Describes a framework published by state agencies offering recommendations across 11 CHW/P/R training program domains, including structure, cost, and alignment with national competencies.

Center for Health Care Strategies•
Directory

CHW/P/R Professional Development and Specialized Training Modules Directory

Provides a summary of publicly available CHW/P/R training modules that address specific health topics and target populations.

Center for Health Care Strategies•
Tip Sheet

Tip Sheet: Comparison of Medi-Cal Funding Sources for CHW/P/R Services

Summarizes key components of different funding sources for CHW/P/R reimbursement in Medi-Cal, including the Medi-Cal CHW benefit, ECM, Community Supports, Enhanced CHW services managed by county behavioral health plans, CHW Services within Dental Fee Schedule, and Community Health Integration Services G-Codes.

Center for Health Care Strategies•
Directory

California CHW/P/R Foundational Training Program Directory

Shares an updated list of active training programs in California with an overview of program type, location, languages offered, modality, and contact information.

Center for Health Care Strategies•
Report

Applying the C3 Framework to Advance CHW/P Capacity Building: A Case Study Series

Presents examples of how organizations can use the CHW Core Consensus Standards to support CHW/P/R training and growth.

El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center•
Report

Understanding California’s Community Health Worker/Promotor Workforce: A Deep Dive into CHW/P Employer Perspectives

Highlights employer perspectives on areas of the CHW/P/R role, including training, skills, billing, recruitment, and retention.

California Health Care Foundation•
Report

Understanding California’s Community Health Worker/Promotor Workforce: CHW/P Health Care Employers

Describes hospital and community health center employer practices and prospective employer opinions related to the employment of CHW/P/Rs in their organizations.

California Health Care Foundation•
Tool

Selected Tools and Resources for CHW/P/R Practice

Provides links to examples of screening tools, outreach and documentation templates, communication supports, and resources that promote workforce wellbeing that can support CHW/P/Rs.

Center for Health Care Strategies•
Tool

Examples of CHW/P/R Job Descriptions

Provides a collection of CHW/P/R job descriptions for a range of different roles, settings, and employer types.

Center for Health Care Strategies•