Policy & Advocacy
Welcome to the NACHW National Policy Platform. This is an important tool to promote national professional identity, leadership and capacity of CHWs and our Associations.
NEW March 2025: NACHW Capitol Hill Visit
The 3rd annual Capitol Hill Visit takes place on March 10-12, 2025 in Washington, D.C.! Click here to learn more.
NACHW CHW National Policy Platform (English & Spanish)
It is with great excitement that we share with you all the NACHW National Policy Platform. This document is an important tool to promote national professional identity, leadership and capacity of CHWs and our Associations.
This document was created over the past year of town hall calls with over 30 CHW Associations, 3 national CHW polls, numerous partner meetings, member input on the Biden administration’s national plan to Build Back Better and in consultation with many of you. It centers many of the policies and best practices that are already nationally endorsed within our field and can be applied to COVID-19 response efforts as well as long term policy development.
Plataforma de Política Nacional de NACHW
Es con gran entusiasmo que compartimos con todos ustedes la Plataforma de política nacional de NACHW. Este documento es una herramienta importante para promover la identidad profesional nacional, el liderazgo y la capacidad de los CHW y nuestras Asociaciones.
Este documento fue creado durante el año pasado de las reuniones con más de 30 asociaciones de CHW, 3 encuestas nacionales de CHW, numerosas reuniones de socios, aportes de miembros sobre el plan nacional de la administración Biden para reconstruir mejor y en consulta con muchos de ustedes. Centra muchas de las políticas y mejores prácticas que ya están respaldadas a nivel nacional dentro de nuestro campo y se pueden aplicar a los esfuerzos de respuesta a COVID-19, así como al desarrollo de políticas a largo plazo.
How Managed Care Organizations Can Authentically Partner With Community Health Workers
By NACHW and UnitedHealthcare
National CHW Policy Developments:
NACHW Response
Response to Proposed Rule [CMS-1784-P] Medicare and Medicaid Programs. Our recommendations address opportunities to acknowledge, advance, and sustain the community health worker (CHW) profession through increased professional recognition and integration of CHW leadership and the capacity of our workforce to improve Medicare services.
NEW APHA CHW Policy
A Strategy to Address Racism and Violence as Public Health Priorities: Community Health Workers Advancing Equity & Violence Prevention
NACHW’S Response
Response to proposed changes: CMS-1807-P; Medicare and Medicaid Programs, Physician Fee Schedule, and others.
Opportunities and challenges for federal CHW financing, infrastructure, and capacity building efforts
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Request for Information on CHW Roles in Medicare (file codes CMS 4203 NC and CMS 1770 P)
Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Community Health Worker Training Program (Funding Opportunity HRSA 22 124)
NACHW Reports Page
On the NACHW Reports page, you will find an archive of reports NACHW has authored or co-authored. Access the page using the button below!
CHW Standard Occupational Classification
NACHW proudly recognizes the organizing and advocacy work that CHWs nationwide undertook to help secure our unique Standard Occupational Classification (#21-1094) under the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics. We encourage CHWs and allies to support accurate tracking of the CHW workforce by ensuring that CHWs are appropriately classified as such — particularly in the 2020 Census. We also encourage CHWs and allies to participate in ongoing opportunities to engage with the DOL regarding the workforce definition and tracking. The Department of Labor’s CHW page can be found here.
Please fill out this form if you would like to request input from NACHW on a state-level or organizational policy, paper, position statement, or another related item. You can also use this form to request NACHW’s participation in a CHW policy-related workgroup, roundtable, or other CHW policy-related event. Please note the following:
- Due to capacity constraints, we can take on a limited number of requests.
- We will prioritize and make every effort to work on requests from NACHW members, community-based organizations (CBOs), and CHW Networks (defined as state/regional organizations, associations, or coalitions comprised of 50% or more of CHWs in leadership and membership, and whose mission and activities focus on CHW training, workforce development, mentoring, member mobilization, and cross-sector networking, and advocacy).
- We will notify you with an update and some next steps within five business days.
- We may follow up with additional questions. Requests are considered incomplete until we receive all information necessary to process your request.
- Please keep in mind that NACHW does not endorse individual training programs, curricula, or candidates for any political office.
NACHW does not endorse any specific CHW training program or curriculum. We encourage CHWs and other stakeholders seeking training to look for CHW training and educational based on nationally recognized competencies, that include CHWs in development of their curricula, including CHWs as faculty and that use adult educational techniques to draw on trainees’ existing knowledge and life experiences.
CHW policies of the American Public Health Association (APHA) endorsed by NACHW
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2023 policy in support of Community Health Workers advancing racial equity & violence prevention
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2014 policy in support of CHW self-determination and leadership.
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2009 policy with definition in support for CHWs’ ability to increase access and reduce inequities.
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2001 policy in support of CHWs’ contributions to meeting the nation’s healthcare needs.
