Community health workers (CHWs), doulas, and peer support specialists (PSSs) play a key role in improving health and reducing health gaps. Though they have worked in communities for years, Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) has recently started covering their services. This summary explains who they are, how their roles are similar or different, and what services they … [Read more...] about Understanding Community Health Workers/Promotores/Representatives, Doulas, and Peer Support Specialists in Medi-Cal
North America (U.S. and Canada)
Comparing Three Medi-Cal Benefits: Community Health Workers, Doulas, and Peer Support Specialists
This document compares three Medi-Cal services that started in 2022 and 2023: community health workers (CHWs), doulas, and peer support specialists (PSS). It shows how their roles, services, and payment systems differ. CHWs include promotores and community health representatives who support Spanish-speaking and Native communities. The document focuses on core services covered … [Read more...] about Comparing Three Medi-Cal Benefits: Community Health Workers, Doulas, and Peer Support Specialists
Working with Community Health Workers for Improved Clinical Care: Overview of Development and Outcomes of a Unique Project ECHO Series
Maine has welcomed many new immigrants, but they often struggle to get the healthcare they need. Community Health Workers (CHWs) help bridge this gap, but they’re still new to the MaineHealth system. To help care teams work better with CHWs, a special training series called Project ECHO was created. It included input from community members and CHWs and helped increase care … [Read more...] about Working with Community Health Workers for Improved Clinical Care: Overview of Development and Outcomes of a Unique Project ECHO Series
Public Health + Public Safety: Integrating Community Health Workers with Probation Officers to Improve Service Delivery for Justice-Involved Women
This study looked at adding a Community Health Worker (CHW) to a probation team that supports women. Interviews with staff and clients showed that CHWs helped by guiding clients, sharing the workload, and being a trusted support. Clients felt more supported in both personal and professional areas. The findings suggest that including CHWs, especially those with lived experience, … [Read more...] about Public Health + Public Safety: Integrating Community Health Workers with Probation Officers to Improve Service Delivery for Justice-Involved Women
“I feel like my job is to give patients hope” – perspectives of Community Health Workers and employers in Iowa: a mixed methods study
This study looked at Community Health Workers (CHWs) and their employers in Iowa to understand their roles, training needs, and challenges. Interviews and surveys showed that CHWs do a wide variety of tasks and often receive training on the job, but many still feel they need more training. Employers said that funding is a major barrier to running CHW programs. While CHWs feel … [Read more...] about “I feel like my job is to give patients hope” – perspectives of Community Health Workers and employers in Iowa: a mixed methods study