Supporting & Scaling the CHW/P/R Workforce in California
Community Health Worker, Promotor(a), and Community Health Representative (CHW/P/Rs) play a crucial role in addressing health equity in communities across California, but this critical workforce has long lacked the support and investment to integrate them sustainably into health care systems. The Amplifying Impact Initiative ran from March 2025 to May 2026 to help meaningfully expand, integrate, and sustain the CHW/P/R workforce across California.
Funded by California Health Care Foundation and Cedars-Sinai, and led in partnership with health equity non-profit Health Leads, this initiative connected 28 CHW/P/R Medi-Cal providers to funding, technical assistance, and tactical tools over 15 months to test implementation strategies, strengthen organizational and regional capacity, expand the CHW/P/R workforce, and build sustainable approaches to integrate CHW/P/Rs into Medi-Cal.
The Impact of Meaningful CHW/P/R Investment
The Amplifying Impact Initiative’s direct, intentional investment into providers, collaboratives, and workforce development helped accelerate the integration of CHW/P/Rs into California’s health care system and improved access to care for communities that have historically faced barriers to services.
The Amplifying Impact evaluation, conducted by the Bright Research Group, details the strategies and approaches that helped participating organizations across California expand access to culturally responsive, community-based care for Medi-Cal members.
Check out the Executive Summary, evaluation report, and case profiles to learn more.
Collective outcomes achieved by Amplifying Impact grantees. Image: Bright Research Group
“The population we serve in enhanced care management is the most complex, the most vulnerable pockets of the population. They have certain mistrusts. But hiring a CHW who lives in the same community, understands the issues in the community, and can speak with them in person—they’re more likely to help improve their health. The CHW really makes a bigger impact.”
— Clinical Practice Coach, Inland Empire Health Plan
CHW/P/R Impact Stories
Community Health Worker, Promotor(a), and Community Health Representative (CHW/P/Rs) hold deep roots in the communities they serve, bringing essential care, advocacy, and lived experience to California’s health care landscape. Despite under-investment and complex challenges, this workforce remains resilient and continuously breaks down barriers to drive health equity forward.
Explore our grantee stories to see all the powerful ways CHW/P/Rs are expanding access, strengthening regional networks, and paving the way for lasting sustainable change.
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Community Health Representatives at Family HealthCare Network attend more than 1000 events each year to connect families to care. Learn how these CHR’s are building healthier communities through partnership, presence, and people centered care.
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At Adventist Health Clear Lake, CHWs use a trauma-informed approach to provide wrap-around services to unsheltered individuals. Learn how they deliver care beyond the clinic walls – bringing showers, food, and medical care directly to the community.
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In Heart of Care: Community Health Workers, the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium demonstrates the vital impact CHW/Ps have in our healthcare system and communities, especially in community health centers, by providing culturally appropriate care, ensuring access to quality services and promoting dignity and humanity.
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At Salud Para La Gente, community health workers expand access by delivering care directly to the community - recognizing that health truly starts where their patients live, work, learn, worship, and play.
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The CA Bridge Navigator Program trains hospital harm reductionist staff as CHWs across California. Learn how these they expand access to addiction treatment foster healing environments free from stigma, valuing every person regardless of where they are in their journey.
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Peer learning spaces hosted by the Santa Barbara Foundation establish collective support to ensure no organization has to navigate the path to equity alone, using collective wisdom to turn shared challenges into communal strengths.
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The Los Angeles County CHW/P/R Consortium's 90+ member network aligns efforts to drive systemic improvements and enhance community wellbeing. Learn about their movement strengthening and elevate the CHW/P/R workforce.
Tools, Resources & Webinar Recordings
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California Advancing & Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM)
Collection of tools and resources aimed at helping organizations understand and implement CalAIM.
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CHW/P/Rs in California: Updates, Opportunities, and What’s Ahead
What recent renewals and policy shifts mean for providers, frontline workers, and the communities they serve.
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Expanding the CHW/P/R Workforce in California
Overviews of opportunities for the state’s CHW/P/R workforce and best practices in training and support.
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CHW/P/R Solutions for Enhanced Care Management
Best practices to scale impact and better connect Medi-Cal’s highest-need members with critical health and social services
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CHW/P/R Statewide Grassroots Coalition
Information from the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network emerging policies, practices and proposals.
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CalAIM Renewal Explained
Insights on the Medicaid 1115 and 1915b waiver renewal process.
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The Children's Partnership Resource Hub
Resources to support CHW/P/Rs and organizations looking to work with CHW/P/Rs more effectively.
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Exploring the Impact of Meaningful CHW/P/R Investment
Key learnings and takeaways from the 18 month Amplifying Impact Initiative.
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CHW Financial Sustainability Toolkit
Exercises, tools and approaches to address complex CHW workforce financial sustainability challenges.
Participating Organizations
Numbers represent initiative participants, many of which are active in multiple regions.
Keep in Touch
The movement continues! Building upon groundwork and success of Cycle One, the Amplifying Impact Initiative is entering a new chapter under the leadership of the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI).Under HCAI’s stewardship, the next phase will focus on deepening organizational capacity, delivering specialized workforce support services, and funding targeted infrastructure investments that build a thriving sustainable care system, and secure the long term sustainability for CHW/P/R across California.
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