Supporting the designation of the week of August 28 through September 1, 2023, as National Community Health Worker Awareness Week.

Supporting the designation of the week of August 28 through September 1, 2023, as National Community Health Worker Awareness Week Whereas a community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of the community in which the worker serves and has an unusually close understanding of that community that enables the worker to build trusted relationships, serve as a liaison 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, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy; Whereas community health workers are a unique workforce, recognized in 36 States with a professional certification; Whereas community health workers are a community-based workforce that builds relationships with those around them and helps build treatment capacity 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 country; Whereas community health workers have been known by many different titles, including community health representatives, promotoras de salud, aunties, peers, 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; (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; (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 associations or coalitions with leadership and membership that are composed of at least 50 percent community health workers, promotoras, or community health representatives and whose activities include training, workforce development, mentoring, and other initiatives to support community health worker, promotora, and community health representative programs: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Community Health Worker Awareness Week; (2) recognizes the significant contributions of community health workers to the health care system and communities across the United States; (3) encourages collaboration at the local, State, and Federal levels to raise awareness of the important role of community health workers; and (4) supports the work of community health workers to improve health outcomes in underserved and high-need communities.

Summary: This resolution supports the goals and ideals of National Community Health Worker Awareness Week.