Access to quality healthcare remains a challenge for many underrepresented communities. Community Health Workers (CHWs) serve as vital link between healthcare providers and the communities they serve, helping to bridge language, cultural, and systemic barriers to care. At Asian Women for Health (AWFH), we’re engaging directly with active CHWs to gather their insights with our IMPACT-CHW project: Identifying Motivations and Priorities to Advance CHW Training.

This project, made possible through the generous support of The Biogen Foundation and HRiA, aims to strengthen CHW training, increase job opportunities, and advance health equity.

The Need for Stronger CHW Training

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are essential to improving healthcare access, especially in underrepresented communities. They help individuals navigate complex healthcare systems, provide culturally relevant education, and connect people to vital services. However, despite their critical role, many CHWs face challenges such as limited opportunities for professional development, unclear career pathways, and a lack of resources to support their work.

By strengthening training and professional development, we can equip CHWs with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to serve their communities more effectively. This includes improving the existing curriculum, developing new courses, and creating opportunities for career growth – ensuring that CHWs are not only prepared for their roles but also empowered to advance in their field.

How This Project Makes an Impact

Asian Women for Health (AWFH) is taking a community-driven approach to improving CHW training. Over the next months, we will engage with active CHWs to learn directly from their experiences – what’s working, what’s missing, and what additional support they need to be more effective in their roles.

Their insights will help us:

• Enhance existing CHW training programs to better meet real-world needs.
• Develop new curriculum based on the challenges CHWs face in the field.
• Improve job placement rates by identifying new career pathways and professional development opportunities.

By shaping training programs around the voices of CHWs themselves, we can empower them to deliver even better care – ultimately improving health outcomes in underserved communities.

How You Can Help

We believe that CHWs are the best experts on what they need to succeed – and we want to hear from them. By participating in this project, CHWs will have the opportunity to shape future training programs, gain access to new professional development resources, and contribute to improving healthcare for their communities.

• Are you a CHW? Join us in shaping better training programs by sharing your experiences.
• Know a CHW? Help spread the word and encourage them to participate.
• Work with CHWs? Support recruitment efforts by connecting us with potential participants.

If you or someone you know is interested in getting involved, contact us at tnguyen@asianwomenforhealth.org to learn more.