Re: Gun Violence across the United States
Our hearts at NACHW are with the communities of Tulsa, OK, Uvalde, TX, Buffalo, NY, Laguna Woods, CA, and all communities affected by gun violence. Please read this statement from NACHW Executive Director, Denise Smith regarding gun violence in the United States. Statement here
Pandemic Funding is Running Out for Community Health Workers
Originally published on April 6th, 2022 GRANITE CITY, Ill. — As a community health worker, 46-year-old Christina Scott is a professional red-tape cutter, hand-holder, shoulder to cry on, and personal safety net, all wrapped into one. She works in an office in the shadow of the steel mill that employed her grandfather in this shrinking […]
Addressing Systemic Inequities and Racism in Community-Based Organization Funding
Originally published November 15th, 2021 The COVID-19 pandemic has both strained and exposed our country’s deep under-investment and under-valuing of community-based organizations (CBOs) and workforces (CBWs) – including food banks, churches, shelters, health advocates/navigators, Promotores and others – like never before. These organizations and community members have long played a critical role in delivering services and support tailored to address the downstream […]
Kids will soon be getting the vaccine, but several equity issues still stand in the way for BIPOC
Originally published October 29th, 2021 Twenty-eight million children are one step closer to receiving their COVID-19 vaccines. This week, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee voted to authorize the Pfizer vaccine for all kids ages 5-11 after reviewing clinical trial data. The vaccine is slightly different than the one for adults: “The main difference is […]
COVID-19 front lines need community health workers, yet they’re not getting needed support
Originally published May 4, 2021 As a community health worker and executive director of the National Association of Community Health Workers, I’ve spent the past year gathering insights about the mental and emotional challenges for the people on the front lines of pandemic response in neighborhoods across America. I know well the anxiety and guilt they feel trying to comfort and support […]
To Strengthen The Public Health Response To COVID-19, We Need Community Health Workers
Originally published May 6th, 2020 The public health system is a critical firewall to reduce community spread of COVID-19 and to relieve the unsustainable pressure the US health care system is experiencing as a result of the pandemic. Community health workers (CHWs)—frontline public health staff who conduct outreach and build trust with vulnerable populations in […]
NACHW: Funding Opportunities to Help Your Local Community!
Looking to support local community-based organizations in solving issues like food insecurity, COVID-related funerary expenses, vaccination assistance, and others? We have several opportunities collected here for your consideration! HRIA: Community-Based Workforce to Build COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence The purpose of the program is to strengthen vaccine confidence, provide further information and education on the […]
Empowering Community Health Workers to Lead the Fight for Health Equity
At the Center for Health Worker Innovation, we provide a platform for our partners and others in global health to share their perspectives on the health workforce. To that end, the following piece is authored by Denise Octavia Smith, CHW, MBA, PN, Executive Director, National Association of Community Health Workers. When formerly enslaved Africans and […]
2021 NACHW Board of Directors Candidates
At the NACHW Annual Meeting and Unity Conference on July 28-29, 2021, member attendees in good standing before or on July 16th, 2021 will participate in a vote for members of NACHW’s board of directors. Below are this year’s board candidates. Please take some time to get to know them, and vote at the conference! […]
Strengthening the Community Health Workforce Can Help Improve Healthcare Access for Communities of Color
Strengthening the Community Health Workforce Can Help Improve Healthcare Access for Communities of Color CHWs play a key role in connecting communities with healthcare in a trusted and culturally competent way—they need to be fully recognized and integrated into health systems. . The Johnson & Johnson Our Race to Health Equity platform, a $100 million commitment over […]
