Section members have worked together over many years through connections forged at APHA to create what can be called a “Community of Practice.” Through this “community” they have supported one another’s efforts to promote CHWs on the home front in states where many important policy changes take place.  As a part of this, a group of Section members worked together over a year’s time to write and submit an article about important state advocacy and policy developments aimed at supporting CHWs.

The idea for article came from a CHW Section panel at the 2008 Annual Meeting facilitated by long-time Section member Dr. Nell Brownstein of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who recognized the importance of the stories of state successes. She mentored the author team in writing the article.

The article, appearing in the July 2010 issue of Health Affairs, highlights policy efforts in two states, Massachusetts and Minnesota; advocates from both states were members of the article author team.  In the Massachusetts story, learn about how CHW leadership has played a vital role in moving the field forward and in Minnesota, read about ground-breaking policy that allows CHWs in that state to reimbursed through Medicaid for their services. The article also presents guidance aimed at the development of health policy and programs to support the sustained integration of CHWs. The authors also discuss the value of CHWs in the implementation of health reform.

Watch for it:

Rosenthal L, Brownstein JN, Hirsch GR, Willaert AM, Rush C, Holderby LR, Fox DJ, Scott JR, Community Health Workers, Part of the Solution: Promising State Policy Change Supporting the Integration of Community Health Workers into Systems of Care. Health Affairs. In Press July 2010