California’s health system is facing a crisis, with rising costs and millions of Californians struggling to access the care they need. This growing challenge has many causes and will require bold action by the new governor, legislators, and a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the public and private sectors. At the core of this challenge is the simple fact that California does not have enough of the right types of health workers in the right places to meet the needs of its growing, aging, and increasingly diverse population.
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(Recommendation 3.4) Scale the engagement of community health workers, promotores, and peer providers through certification, training, and reimbursement, broadening access to prevention and social support services in communities across the state. Community health workers and promotores (CHW/Ps) and peer providers can help meet increasing demand for team-based integrated primary and behavioral health care, drawing on lived experience to support better outcomes for all and to promote recovery and self-sufficiency for people with mental illness and substance use disorder.
