PIH-US Year In Review

This year, PIH-US supported community and public health partners to advocate for and advance community-centered policies, expand community health infrastructure, and train the community-based workforce. Below, we recap some of PIH-US's accomplishments from 2024.

Advanced Community-Centered Policies

In New Bedford, Massachusetts, PIH-US is working closely with the health department, public sector partners, and over 55 community-based organizations including local nonprofits and community development corporations to advance equity through a Health Equity Community of Practice (HECoP). By facilitating trainings, quarterly community convenings, and networking, this coalition is shaping policies that bolster community priorities. This year, the HECoP endorsed the "Cover All Kids" legislation to increase healthcare for every child in Massachusetts; supported initiatives to improve mental health awareness and training, while building partnerships to break the stigma around seeking help; and promoted civic engagement by improving language access for non-English speakers.

Expanded Community Health Infrastructure

PIH-US is working alongside Acenda Integrated Health and the New Jersey Department of Health to strengthen New Jersey’s community health worker (CHW) infrastructure and develop a statewide CHW Hub. The Hub focuses on training, deploying, and ensuring the sustainability of CHWs. As the lead agency of the Hub’s Engagement, Recruitment, and Retention Committee, PIH-US is leading efforts to engage and organize CHWs across New Jersey and ensure they have representation in the decision-making process. Most recently, PIH-US recruited 15 CHWs to help establish a working group for the first statewide CHW Association. PIH-US is also leading efforts to determine the current landscape of the CHW workforce in New Jersey. PIH-US launched a comprehensive employer survey to map out where CHWs are located in the state, the roles they serve, the benefits they receive, and the challenges they are facing. The survey currently has over 40 responses and provides a snapshot of New Jersey's CHW workforce.

Provided Continuous Education and Professional Development for the Community-Based Workforce

PIH-US has been working with the Arizona Community Health Workers Association (AzCHOW) to build support for the state’s community health workforce. In June, PIH-US delivered a plenary session to over 380 community health workers, community health representatives, promotoras, and allies in attendance at AzCHOW’s annual Roots Conference. The session equipped Arizona’s community health workforce with the tools to advocate for and amplify their roles in health systems. Following the in-person training, PIH-US and AzCHOW launched a webinar series to reinforce skills and connect Arizona’s community health workforce to additional training and resources.

PIH-US also delivered a plenary session to over 120 CHWs at the Florida CHW Coalition’s annual meeting. The session used lessons from the 2023 CHW Awareness Day and equipped CHW's with the tools and resources to educate local and state decision makers on the CHW workforce and the support they need. Participants also received continuing education credits for attending the training.

Documented Best Practices and Lessons Learned

For the last three years, PIH-US has supported the city of Montgomery, Alabama to integrate CHWs to tackle health disparities in underserved populations. Since 2021, CHWs in Montgomery have reached over 17,000 community members with health education and linkages to health resources, and partnered with over 300 local organizations to connect individuals to critical resources such as transportation, housing, and health services. In May, PIH-US published a project report for the CHW program which highlighted lessons learned, best practices, and recommendations for the future, including CHW models, hiring strategies, and sustainable funding pathways.

In August, PIH-US wrapped up three years of work with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Office of Rural Health on the NC CHW Initiative. Working in close collaboration with the Office of Rural Health and other community partners, PIH-US helped build an infrastructure for CHWs in the state, including standing up the NC CHW Association, expanding CHW standardized and specialty training, launching a CHW pilot in federally qualified health centers, and evaluating the impact of past and present CHW programming across the state. PIH-US developed a CHW landscape report, as well as a comprehensive set of lessons learned that were informed by North Carolina’s CHW Initiative and designed to guide nationwide efforts to advance community-based health approaches. PIH-US continues to support North Carolina’s CHW Initiative alongside the NC CHW Association and partners with strategic planning and policy advocacy to ensure the long-term integration and success of CHWs across the state.