People Versus Product: Conditions for Success for Community Health Workers as Sustainable Members of the Public Health Workforce
Institutions recognize CHWs' impact; however, CHWs feel that the aspects of their work that build their expertise often go unnoticed and undervalued. To sustain CHWs as integral members of the public health workforce, especially during crises and recovery, institutions need to recognize the full extent of CHW roles and provide adequate financial and structural support essential to preserve the model's viability and impact. Findings from this case study may inform policies and practices for governmental and health care systems that rely upon and contract with CHWs to mitigate health inequities. Such practices include evolving CHW accreditation and reimbursement policies and initiatives.
Authors
- Brittany N. Morey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2637-1227)
- Patricia J. Cantero
- John Billimek (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6532-3263)
- Melina Michelen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3659-7788)
- Noraima Chirinos
- Mary Anne Foo
- Jacqueline J. Chow (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5173-7364)
- Gloria Itzel Montiel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2540-1487)
- Alana M. W. LeBrón (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0964-4673)
- Salvador Zárate (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5391-6782)
- Rocio Salazar
- L. M. Donaldson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8761-8257)
- Sora Park Tanjasiri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8829-9363)
- Samantha Peralta
- VANESSA KAUFFMAN
Institutions
- Population Council (IN)
- Claremont Graduate University (US)
- University of California, Irvine (US)
- Irvine University (US)
- AltaMed (US)
- Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance (US)
- Access to Wholistic and Productive Living Institute (US)
- Digital Research Alliance of Canada
Publication Details
- Journal
- Milbank Quarterly
- Published
- 2025-07-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0009.70038
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Public Health Policies and Education
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.82
Funders
- National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities