III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 771 

Supporting the designation of the week of August 26 through August 30, 

2024, as the second annual ‘‘National Community Health Worker Awareness Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 25, 2024 

Mr. CASEY (for himself, Mr. PADILLA, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Ms. HIRONO, Mrs. 

GILLIBRAND, and Mr. BROWN) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the designation of the week of August 26 through 

August 30, 2024, as the second annual ‘‘National Community Health Worker Awareness Week’’. 

Whereas a community health worker is a frontline public 

health worker who is a trusted member, or has an unusually close understanding, of the community served; 

Whereas this trusting relationship enables the worker to serve 

as a liaison, link, or intermediary between health and social services and the community, facilitate access to services, improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery, build individual and community capacity, 

and increase health knowledge and self-sufficiency 

through a range of activities such as outreach, commuVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:14 Jul 26, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR771.IS SR771

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•SRES 771 IS 

nity education, informal counseling, social support, and 

advocacy; 

Whereas community health workers are a unique workforce, 

recognized in 25 States with a professional certification; 

Whereas community health workers are a community-based 

workforce that builds relationships and capacity for 

health and well-being in underserved areas; 

Whereas community health workers are a historic and diverse 

workforce that goes back hundreds of years in the United 

States and reflects the diversity of the Nation; 

Whereas community health workers have been known by 

many different titles, including community health representatives, promotores de salud, aunties, and outreach 

workers; 

Whereas community health workers are a cross-sector workforce that connects community members to health care 

and other social services, reducing barriers to health and 

well-being; 

Whereas community health workers are a proven workforce 

with decades of research documenting effectiveness in 

maternal and child health, chronic disease interventions, 

immunization, oral health, HIV, primary care, and many 

other disciplines, and have a documented return on investment for many programs; 

Whereas sustainable funding of community health workers 

supports fair market wages and enhanced recruitment 

and retention of the workforce; 

Whereas community health workers fulfill a wide range of 

roles, including— 

(1) providing cultural mediation among individuals, 

communities, and health and social service systems; 


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(2) offering culturally appropriate health education 

and information; 

(3) offering care coordination, case management, 

and system navigation; 

(4) providing coaching and social support; 

(5) advocating for individuals and communities; 

(6) building individual and community capacity; 

(7) providing direct service, including basic screening tests, such as weight and blood pressure screening, 

basic services, such as diabetic foot checks, and meeting 

basic needs; 

(8) implementing individual and community assessments; 

(9) conducting outreach; and 

(10) participating in evaluation and research; and 

Whereas community health worker networks are statewide, 

regional, or local community-based organizations, including community health worker associations and coalitions 

with leadership or membership that is comprised of 50 

percent or more of community health workers, 

promotores, or community health representatives, and 

whose mission and activities focus on workforce development, mentoring, member mobilization, and advocacy: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of the second 

3 annual National Community Health Worker Aware4 ness Week; 

5 (2) recognizes the significant contributions of 

6 community health workers to health and social care 

7 systems and communities across the United States; 


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•SRES 771 IS 

1 (3) encourages collaboration at the local, State, 

2 and Federal levels to raise awareness of the impor3 tant role of community health workers; and 

4 (4) supports the work of community health 

5 workers to reduce health disparities by improving 

6 health in underserved communities. 

Æ 


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