Community Health Workers

State Budget Continues California’s Progress on Health Care

Health Equity, Medi-Cal, Workforce, Homelessness & Health Care

Katie Heidorn, CHCF’s director of state health policy, talks about major public investments set for the next fiscal year.

Making CalAIM Services Work for People Leaving Jails and Prisons

Behavioral Health, Medi-Cal, Health Equity

CHCF senior program officer Mariana Torres talks about reentry opportunities and challenges.

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

Healthforce Center at UCSF

This report describes employers’ perspectives of many facets of the community health worker/promoter profession, including training, primary roles and skills, billing, recruitment and retention, and future directions.

Improving Access to Care Through Smart Workforce Strategies

Van Ton-Quinlivan

In a podcast interview, CHCF President and CEO Sandra R. Hernández talks about the importance of using the health care workforce strategically.

Community Health Worker & Promotor Workforce Capacity Building Collaborative

The Community Health Worker & Promotor Workforce Capacity Building Collaborative (CBC) supports four regional teams across the state, which have committed to develop financially sustainable models to grow the CHW/P workforce in their region as a means to advance health equity.

Briefing — California’s Community Health Worker/Promotor/Representative Workforce

Join CHCF for a Sacramento briefing on April 28, 2023, from noon to 1:30 PM, focused on understanding California's community health worker/promotor/representative workforce.

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

Healthforce Center at UCSF

This report describes current hospital and community health center practices related to the employment of CHW/Ps in their organizations.

Understanding California’s Community Health Worker/Promotor Workforce: CHW/P Training Programs

Healthforce Center at UCSF

This report presents the results of research into the CHW/P education and training programs in California, including details about program location(s), delivery mode, length and more.

Street Medicine in California: ‘Go to the People’

December 12, 2022

Avram Goldstein

Homelessness & Health Care, Behavioral Health, Health Equity

California’s persistent homelessness crisis has fueled rapid growth in community street medicine programs dedicated to bringing health care and social services to unsheltered people.

Understanding California’s Community Health Worker/Promotor Workforce: A Survey of CHW/Ps

Healthforce Center at UCSF

This report summarizes findings from a survey of community health workers and promotores in California. It attempts to crystallize key attributes and perspectives of this important workforce.

It’s Time to Build New Opportunities for Community Health Workers and Promotores

October 13, 2022

Kiran Savage-Sangwan, Mayra E. Alvarez, Jeffrey Reynoso, Maria Lemus

Workforce, Health Equity

A statewide coalition focused on community health workers and promotores is developing a policy agenda and public outreach campaign to support and expand this vital, often overlooked part of the health workforce.

Summary of Medicaid State Plan Amendments for Community Health Workers

This chart summarizes state plan amendments to CMS from seven states seeking authorization for CHWs to serve a broad Medicaid population.

Disaster Service Workers Step Up in Pandemic

January 7, 2022

Aisling Carroll

Homelessness & Health Care, Workforce, Behavioral Health

How local agencies expanded their assistance to Santa Clara County’s unhoused population in the COVID-19 era.

With Superheroes and Songs, El Sol’s Promotores Help Vaccinate Inland Empire

December 3, 2021

Workforce, Health Equity

Community health workers have devoted significant energy to disseminating information about the coronavirus and the vaccines that protect people from it.

December 1, 2021

Webinar — Learning About California’s Community Health Worker State Plan Amendment

December 1, 2021

This webinar will present opportunities by California's proposed community health worker (CHW) State Plan Amendment (SPA), the core elements of an SPA, approaches to CHW SPAs in other states, and some key considerations for California. It will also include a panel discussion representing diverse perspectives on the role of CHW/Ps as both lay health care workers and community advocates, the need for sustainable funding for the CHW/P workforce, and the critical function of CHW/Ps in advancing health equity and improving health outcomes.