Since its inception in 1983, MHP Salud has developed a strong history of working with farmworkers and their rural communities to improve health and increase access to care. Developing and implementing innovative health promotion programs with a firm commitment to collaboration and resource-sharing have remained key organizational strategies. The National Migrant Worker Council, Inc., an association of Catholic sisters, religious leaders and volunteers, originally shaped this vision out of their commitment to improving the health of farmworkers. In 2013, MHP Salud adopted its new name from its old name, “Migrant Health Promotion.”  The name and logo refocus on the organization’s 30-year history serving migrants, with a widening of scope to include MHP Salud’s commitment to serving farmworker, border and other underserved and isolated communities throughout the United States.

A community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.  A community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.