Community Health Workers: A National Landscape
Below is an up-to-date and interactive map visualization of known CHW Associations, CHW state certification programs, and states that offer MHP Salud’s CHW Training for CHW Certification or Medicaid reimbursement. This information on the map was last updated in June 2022. Beneath the map, there is a directory of known CHW associations, their website, and their mission statement.
Community Health Worker Associations are local, state, or regional organizations that advocate for CHWs and provide training, resources, and/or networking opportunities.
The CHW National Landscape
CHW National Landscape Information is broken down into multiple categories:
- CHW Association characteristics include the organizational scope, whether local, state, regional, or national
- Whether the state offers certification
- The certifying body is in the state (if applicable)
- Whether the state offers Medicaid reimbursement
- States where MHP Salud has approved training for CHWs
Additionally, each association is listed along with its mission statement and website in the Table of Community Health Worker Associations below the map. Asterisks next to CHW Associations denote that a mission statement was not located, and language was approximated from elsewhere on the association’s website.
A Note on State Characteristics…
Community Health Worker state certification is an official credential that demonstrates a CHW has fulfilled predetermined requirements. CHW certification is voluntary in most states. However, in select states certification is mandatory for a CHW to practice or receive Medicaid reimbursement. State certification is typically run by the state health department, and in some cases in partnership with CHW associations and/or local training providers. State certification differs from receiving a certificate of completion from a training program. For this map, only those states with an official state certification program have been counted. Additionally, because of the increased attention of state Medicaid reimbursement as a method to finance CHW services, it has been featured as a characteristic.
Notice something we got wrong? Tell us! Correct information on this map and on the table below by emailing trainers@mhpsalud.org
Directory of CHW Associations
A
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Community Health Worker Association | The Arizona Community Health Worker Association was founded in 2001 with the mission to “provide a forum for community health workers to inform and unite culturally diverse community health workers of all disciplines, and to strengthen the professional development of the field through resource sharing and collaborative opportunities with community, government, health, and educational institutions.” | Click Here |
| Arkansas Community Health Worker Association | The Arkansas Community Health Worker Association was founded in 2015 with the mission to “support Arkansas community health workers in promoting improvements in health and health care.” | Click Here |
| Alliance of Colorado Community Health Workers, Patient Navigatores and Promotores de Salud* | The Alliance of Colorado Community Health Workers, Patient Navigatores and Promotores de Salud was founded to “reduce and eliminate barriers to quality health care both within health systems and the community; reduce disparities in health outcomes; and foster ongoing health equity.” | Click Here |
A
California Association of Community Health Workers
The California Association of Community Health Workers was founded with the mission to “value and promote the Community Health Worker model; the heart of which is the “espíritus de servicio” and to support the career development of the people in the many different job titles (More than 100…) that comprise the Community Health Worker workforce.”
Arizona Community Health Worker Association
The Arizona Community Health Worker Association was founded in 2001 with the mission to “provide a forum for community health workers to inform and unite culturally diverse community health workers of all disciplines, and to strengthen the professional development of the field through resource sharing and collaborative opportunities with community, government, health, and educational institutions.”
Click Here
Arkansas Community Health Worker Association
The Arkansas Community Health Worker Association was founded in 2015 with the mission to “support Arkansas community health workers in promoting improvements in health and health care.”
Click Here
C
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| California Association of Community Health Workers | The California Association of Community Health Workers was founded with the mission to “value and promote the Community Health Worker model; the heart of which is the “espíritus de servicio” and to support the career development of the people in the many different job titles (More than 100…) that comprise the Community Health Worker workforce.” | Click Here |
| Colorado Patient Navigator / Community Health Worker Collaborative* | The Colorado Patient Navigator / Community Health Worker Collaborative was founded “in an effort to align all of the various patient navigator/community health worker/promotoras groups in our state and identify and develop a sustainable model for this important work.” | Click Here |
| Community Health Worker (CHW) Collaborative of Pierce County (PC)* | The Community Health Worker (CHW) Collaborative of Pierce County (PC) was founded to “advocate for our CHW workforce as having a critical role in health reform, systems change, and community advocacy.” | Click Here |
| Community Health Worker Association of Rhode Island | The Community Health Worker Association of Rhode Island was founded in 2009 with the mission to “increase the power of Rhode Island’s Community Health Workers to promote health equity through increasing access to quality healthcare and social services and conducting advocacy.” | Click Here |
| Community Health Worker Coalition for Migrants and Refugees | The Community Health Worker Coalition for Migrants and Refugees was founded with the mission to “increase the capacity and competencies of CHWs/Community Champions for meeting the needs of underserved communities by creating sustainable opportunities, implementing innovative solutions, and cultivating productive partnerships.” | Click Here |
| Community Health Worker Collaborative of South Dakota | The Community Health Worker Collaborative of South Dakota was founded with the mission to “promote, support, and sustain the Community Health Worker (CHW) profession in South Dakota.” | Click Here |
| Community Health Worker Network of Cameron County | No mission statement available. | Email: Redpromo13@gmail.com |
| Community Health Worker Network of NYC* | The Community Health Worker Network of NYC was founded to “advance the Community Health Worker practice through education, advocacy, and research.” | Click Here |
| Community Health Worker Professional Association of the District of Columbia | No mission statement available. | Click Here |
| Community Health Workers Association of Connecticut | The Community Health Workers Association of Connecticut was founded in 2012 with the mission to “advance the CHW workforce through policy, education, research and leadership.” | Click Here |
| Community Health Workers Association of Missouri | The Community Health Workers Association of Missouri was founded with the mission to “unite CHWs, CHW instructors, employers, payers, and other interested individuals for professional development and community outreach to serve the communities in which they are involved.” | Click Here |
| Community Health Workers Association of Rochester* | The Community Health Workers Association of Rochester was founded in 2000 to “strengthen the profession and leadership of Community Health Workers.” | Click Here |
| Community Network for Engagement, Connection and Transformation* | The Community Network for Engagement, Connection and Transformation was founded in 2010 to “provide education, networking, and support to ensure ALL people and communities have the resources and power they need to realize their full potential for health and well-being, with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and equity.” | Click Here |
D
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| DFW-CHW Association | The Dallas/Fort Worth Community Health Worker Association was founded in 2014 with the mission to “unite CHWs and CHW Instructors for professional development and community outreach.” | Click Here |
E
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Washington Community Health Worker Network* | The Eastern Washington Community Health Worker Network was founded to “connect[] to each other & resources for those who are the most vulnerable in our region.” | Click Here |
F
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Community Health Worker Coalition | The Florida Community Health Worker Coalition was founded in 2011 with the mission of creating a “statewide partnership dedicated to the support and promotion of the Community Health Worker profession in Florida.” | Click Here |
G
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Community Health Worker Initiative* | The Georgia Community Health Worker Initiative was founded in 2016 to “facilitate a coordinated effort to develop a model that would promote and sustain the integration of CHWs into health and human service organizations.” | Click Here |
H
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Community Health Worker Association | No mission statement available. | Click Here |
| Healthy Living Collaborative of Southwest Washington* | The Healthy Living Collaborative of Southwest Washington was founded in 2013 with a vision of “community-driven health equity for all.” | Click Here |
I
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho Community Health Workers Association | No website or mission statement. Founded in 2020. | NA |
| Illinois Community Health Workers Association | The Illinois Community Health Workers Association was founded in 2003 as the Chicago Community Health Worker Local Network, and became ILCHWA in 2016. Its mission it to “support and facilitate the progress of CHWs/Promotoras de Saluds and the diverse communities they serve.” | Click here |
| Indiana Community Health Workers Association* | The Indiana Community Health Workers Association was founded in 2013 for “bringing together those in the community who work daily to encourage the health and well-being of their neighbors.” | Click Here |
K
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Community Health Worker Coalition | The Kansas Community Health Worker Coalition was founded with the mission to “collaborat[e] to achieve health equity through education, empowerment, and advocacy.” | Click Here |
| Kentucky Association of Community Health Workers* | The Kentucky Association of Community Health Workers was founded in 2016 to “unify, promote, and sustain the profession of community health workers in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.” | Click Here |
| King County Promotores Network* | The King County Promotores Network was founded to “support, advance connectivity and partnership between bilingual/bicultural promotores and community service partners in King and neighboring counties.” | Click Here |
L
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Lone Star Unified CHW Association* | The Lone Star Unified CHW Association is “an association representing all 254 Texas Counties with a special focus on our rural areas, Community Health Workers training, and workforce development.” | Click Here |
| Louisiana Community Health Outreach Network* | The Louisiana Community Health Outreach Network was founded in 2010 to “support community health workers while advocating for improvements in community health.” | Click Here |
M
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers* | The Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers was founded in 2000 to “champion[] the systemic integration of CHWs into all aspects of health, behavioral health and substance recovery services.” | Click Here |
| Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance | The Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance was founded in 2011 with the mission to “promote and sustain the integration of community health workers (CHWs) into health and human services organizations throughout Michigan through coordinated changes in policy and workforce development.” | Click Here |
| Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance* | The Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance was founded to “build community and systems capacity for better health through the integration of community health worker (CHW) strategies.” | Click Here |
| Minnesota Community Health Worker Peer Network | No mission statement available. | Click Here |
| Montana Community Health Worker Association | No mission statement available. Founded in 2020. | Click Here |
N
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada Community Health Worker Association | The Nevada Community Health Worker Association was founded with the mission to “unify, strengthen, and grow the presence of a diverse, collaborative network of Community Health Workers and Community Health Worker employers in Nevada by providing advocacy, promotion, education, support, and professional development opportunities focused on increasing access to health care and social services, and improving community wellness.” | Click Here |
| New Hampshire CHW Coalition* | The New Hampshire CHW Coalition was founded to “promote CHWs as vital members of the healthcare and social service team; leverage opportunities to educate stakeholders about the CHW model and advocate for healthcare policy changes that advance the sustainability of CHW programs.” | Click Here |
| New Mexico Community Health Worker Association | The New Mexico Community Health Worker Association was founded in 1995 to “support community health workers in New Mexico – including Spanish-speaking promotoras — and communities they serve.” | Click Here |
| Northeast Texas Community Health Worker Coalition | No mission statement available. | Click Here |
O
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Community Health Worker Association* | The Ohio Community Health Worker Association was founded with the goal of “eliminating health disparities for all Ohioans through the CHW model.” | Click Here |
| Oregon Community Health Worker Association* | The Oregon Community Health Worker Association was founded in 2011 to create a “unified voice to empower and advocate for community health workers and our communities.” | Click Here |
P
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Community Health Worker Collaborative | The Pennsylvania Community Health Worker Collaborative was founded with the mission to “help communities meet their primary health care needs by creating a statewide infrastructure bridging community and academic resources.” | Click Here |
| Promotores/Community Health Workers of Travis County* | The Promotores/Community Health Workers of Travis County “aims to build healthier and stronger communities.” | Click Here |
| Promotores Paso del Norte* | No mission statement available. | Click Here |
R
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Community Health Worker Network* | The Rural Community Health Worker Network was founded to “develop and grow strong connections for all Community Health Workers, especially those who work within a rural community.” | Click Here |
S
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Community Health Workers Association | The San Antonio Community Health Workers Association was founded in 2010 to “provide representation and continuing education for certified community health workers, to promote and to foster collaboration across disciplines.” | Click Here |
| San Diego County Promotores Coalition | The San Diego County Promotores Coalition was founded in 2009 with the mission to “promote, value and recognize the work of Promotores and support organizations that work with Promotores to increase access and services to residents of San Diego County.” | Click Here |
| South Carolina Community Health Worker Association | The South Carolina Community Health Worker Association was founded with the mission to “maximize the voices of Community Health Workers and strengthen the profession’s capacity to achieve healthy, equitable communities throughout South Carolina.” | Click Here |
| South Texas Promotora Association Inc. | No mission statement available. | Email:stpa08@outlook.com |
T
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Community Health Worker Collaborative* | The Tennessee Community Health Worker Collaborative is a “a group of organizations focused on advancing the Community Health Worker (CHW) profession in Tennessee.” | Click Here |
| Texas Association of Promotores & Community Health Workers | The Texas Association of Promotores & Community Health Workers was founded in 2019 with the mission to “support and expand opportunities for the CHW profession at the state and local level through advocacy, education, empowerment, and policy.” | Click Here |
| Texas Gulf Coast CHW/Promotores Association | The Texas Gulf Coast CHW/Promotores Association was founded in 2005 with the mission to “meet the needs of the diverse CHW workforce throughout the Texas Gulf Coast by improving communication, providing access to resources, and improving job opportunities. | Click Here |
U
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Unite WI | Unite WI was founded with the mission of “enhancing the health of Milwaukee communities by coordinating Community Health Workers (CHW) to people at risk to services to deliver health (both physical and behavioral) and social services to individuals in a timely, efficient, and economical manner.” | Click Here |
| United Voices* | United Voices was founded to “create health equity, develop and support a strong workforce, and foster economic stability through policy and advocacy and through the programs and services we offer.” | Click Here |
| Utah Community Health Worker Section | The Utah Community Health Worker Section of the Utah Public Health Association was founded in 2016 with the mission to “empower Community Health Workers in Utah by recognizing, embracing, and advocating for the impact and value of their work within our diverse communities.” | Click Here |
V
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Community Health Worker Association | The Virginia Community Health Worker Association was founded to “support the engagement of CHWs, CHW programs, healthcare organizations, and communities to ensure a diversity of voices set priorities and direction in policy, promotion, and sustainability of CHW programs across the commonwealth.” | Click Here |
W
| CHW Association Name | Mission Statement | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Washington State CHW/Promotores Network | The Washington State CHW/Promotores Network was founded with the mission of “meeting the needs of the diverse Community Health Worker workforce by continuously improving training, professional development, communication and access to resources and job opportunities.” | Click Here |
| Wellness Coalition | The Wellness Coalition was founded with the mission of facilitating a “coordinated, community-wide system to improve the health and wellness of people with limited or no health insurance through collaboration, services, and education.” | Click Here |
| West Texas Community Health Worker/Promotores Association | The West Texas Community Health Worker/Promotores Association was founded to “empower, educate, and unite local CHWs.” | Click Here |
| Whatcom CHW Network | The Whatcom CHW Network was founded with the mission to “promote the well-being of children, youth, and families by convening and supporting communities to build their capacity.” | Click Here |
| Wisconsin Community Health Worker Network | The Wisconsin Community Health Worker Network was founded with the mission to “create a space for Community Health Workers by Community Health Workers to support the workforce through advocacy, education, workforce development and sustainability.” | Click Here |
