The Community Health Worker/Promotora/Representative (CHW/P/R) Policy Coalition was formed in 2022 for CHW/P/Rs to play an active role in policy campaigns and conversations that impact their profession and advocate to transform health care to support all peoples. CHW/P/Rs reflect the communities they serve, and their unique connection with the community has not only proven effective in supporting the COVID-19 response, improving outcomes for chronic diseases and mental health, and expanding access to health care services but also positions them as pivotal leaders in the transformation of a costly, disjointed, and inefficient health care system. California has the opportunity to address care fragmentation, diversify the healthcare workforce, and forge a stronger link between health care and public health as the state conscientiously expands the CHW/P/R workforce, centering CHW/P/R values and voices in decision making.
This report presents the policy agenda developed by CHW/P/Rs for the State of California to implement to grow the CHW/P/R workforce in a way that ensures equity and sustainability for CHW/P/Rs and improves care for marginalized communities. The development of these recommendations was led by the CHW/P/R members of the CHW/P/R Policy Coalition to ensure their perspectives guide state policies impacting their workforce. This policy agenda consists of fifteen priority recommendations, each linked to one of the four policy priority areas: workforce development, economic equity, effective integration into care teams, and equitable access for Medi-Cal enrollees.