Program Vision
To transform the occupational landscape for community health workers (CHWs) in community health centers (CHCs) through state and federal advocacy, provision of professional development opportunities, and standardization of community-based outreach resources, tools, and data
Community health workers are integral to advancing health equity within the 300-plus communities served by the state’s 50 CHC organizations. CHWs work on the front lines of our health system and are trusted members of the communities in which they work. They act as a critical bridge between residents and traditional health care and human service systems, strengthen the cultural competence of service delivery, and empower patients to be active participants in improving their health status. (Source: Massachusetts Ethical Standards for Community Health Workers, 2015)
Our CHW Initiative strives to advance the CHW profession at community health centers. This includes ongoing work to better integrate CHWs into health center medical, behavioral health, and dental care teams, and to provide opportunities for growth and innovation within their roles.
In fall 2022, the Mass League’s CHW Initiative was identified by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a promising practice and innovative program. Programs under this initiative have been highlighted and recommended as replicable programs that can be implemented nationwide.
Current Programming
The current programming under the CHW Initiative is funded by the Klarman Family Foundation. This multi-year funding has allowed for the support of the following programs:
1. Strengthening the CHW Workforce in Massachusetts Community Health Centers
This project supports 12 grant-funded CHCs to increase the number of generalist CHWs in the health center workforce, train CHWs and health center leadership in optimizing and empowering CHWs within care teams, and better engage patients in their health goals through the CHW-patient connection.
2. Behavioral Health Training Program for Community Health Workers
This 18-hour program provides CHWs with the knowledge and skills to best serve their patients who struggle with various behavioral health conditions and techniques to support themselves through this work. This program has been broken down into three main topic areas: trauma, mental health, and substance use.
3. CHW Advisory Council
Established in 2022, this council aims to :
- Receive feedback and input from experienced CHWs and CHW supervisors on best practices for CHW programming.
- Unify and strengthen the CHW profession throughout CHCs in the commonwealth by centering the CHW voice in providing advice to the Mass League on efforts about CHW program planning and implementation across Massachusetts CHCs.
The council accepts applications on a rolling basis. For more information, please contact the team at CHWInitiatives@massleague.org.
1. Engaging CHWs to Increase COVID-19 Vaccination in Historically Under-Resourced Communities
Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, this program strives to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence and vaccination rates in primarily communities of color by engaging patients and community members in discussions about the safety and efficacy of vaccines through outreach by CHWs and other types of outreach workers.
2. CHW Integration Into Community Health Centers in Partnership With Center for Health Impact
Funded by MassHealth DSRIP Investments, this project aimed to streamline procedures, create web-based integration tools and provide access to technical assistance for health centers working to integrate CHWs into care teams.
The initiative was able to provide support for Greater Lawrence Family Health Center and New Bedford Community Health.
