State Networks, Community-based Organizations, and Healthcare Organizations Critical to Community Health Worker Sustainability, says new research from National Association of CHWs (NACHW)

NACHW marks National Community Health Worker Awareness Week #NCHWAW with new resources for cross-sector education

BOSTON, Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of National Community Health Worker (CHW) Awareness Week #NCHWAW, an expanded report with new tools, Strengthening Public Health with Community Health Workers, #StrengthInCHWs, was published today demonstrating how state networks, community-based organizations, and healthcare organizations play a critical role in ensuring sustainable CHW value in community health.

Community Health Workers are frontline public health professionals who bridge gaps between health and social services and the communities they serve. They are trusted experts who serve their neighbors and knowledgeable professionals who collaborate with cross-sector partners to help ensure that everyone can receive compassionate and respectful high quality and effective care.

Originally published in 2025 during CHW Awareness Week through a collaboration between the National Association of CHWs (NACHW), Sanofi, NationSwell, Atlas Clarity, and CHW leaders across the country, the report explores how and where CHWs are effectively integrated into their communities sustainably and calls for strategic collaboration, innovation and investment in CHW sustainability toward improved community health.

CHWs are especially critical in communities where services are hard to reach, including the 76 million Americans who live in health professional shortage areas. With uniquely earned trust, CHWs are critical in crisis response and in supporting quality education, community infrastructure, and economic stability.

In addition, according to Honey Yang-Estrada, President, North Carolina Community Health Worker Association, Member, National CHW Policy Coalition, and Co-Chair, NACHW Board of Directors, "Community health workers play a vital role informing policymakers and helping communities to understand health risks and prevent and protect from disease and disease progression. We help patients find, trust, and access services, whether for the overall quality of their lives, or to manage chronic and infectious diseases like diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, and HIV/AIDS."

"Today, for many Americans, CHWs are a critical bridge, helping our neighbors understand how to access Medicaid or other insurance coverage," said Denise Octavia Smith, Inaugural Executive Director of NACHW (2019 – 2025), and co-author of the expanded report. She added, "These new tools, a series of evidence-based one-pagers requested by and informed by interviews with CHW leaders who work to inform cross-sector partners and legislators, show how CHWs can be successfully integrated by sector – in healthcare organizations, in community-based organizations, and through the power of state networks."

"But these bright spots are just a start," Smith said. "Now is the time for the strategic, cross-sector innovation - and policies - that can help ensure the acceleration, scaling, and successful execution of CHW sustainable financing."

The expanded "Strengthening Public Health with Community Health Workers" report with new tools are available for download at www.nachw.org/projects/strengthening-ph-chws/. Designed as discussion starters, they intend to support education, conversation, and action during #NCHWAW and beyond.

About the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW):
The National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW) was founded in April 2019 after several years of planning and organizing by Community Health Workers (CHWs) and allies across the United States. NACHW is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership-driven organization with a mission to unify CHWs across geography, ethnicity, sector and experience to support communities to achieve health, equity and social justice. www.NACHW.org.

Media Contact: Kristi Mitchell, Atlas Clarity, [email protected]

SOURCE National Association of Community Health Workers