This week we are reminded of a fundamental truth: health equity starts in the heart of our communities. We are healthier, knowledgeable, and empowered thanks to the contributions of Community Health Workers (CHWs). We celebrate and honor you this week ~thank you!
Our journey with CHWs isn’t just a recent success—it’s a decades-long legacy of grassroots advocacy, structural innovation, and policy reform.
Better Health Comes From Ongoing, Focused Leadership
Looking back at Minnesota’s CHW Day, we reflected on how local advocates, community leaders, and healthcare allies came together to make Minnesota one of the first states to establish a standardized CHW curriculum and enable Medicaid reimbursement for CHW services. That groundbreaking spirit laid the blueprint for what community-centered care can achieve.
National CHW Awareness Week amplifies the very values Minnesota helped advocate for:
- Trust: Centering CHWs as trusted leaders with unique, expert knowledge of their own communities.
- Partnership: Moving beyond transactional healthcare models to build genuine trust and long-term relationships.
- Sustainability: Advocating for policies that protect, respect, and sustainably fund the CHW workforce nationwide.
When we celebrate nationally, we carry Minnesota’s legacy forward, proving that when state-level policy honors community-led wisdom, the impact reaches far beyond our state borders.
Why CHW Awareness Week Matters
Led by the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW), National CHW Awareness Week provides a unified platform to elevate the CHW workforce across race, geography, and specialty.
It serves as a vital reminder to healthcare systems, policymakers, and local organizations that CHWs are not merely a support service, they are essential health professionals and drivers of health equity.
Together we can continue to…
- Promote the CHW Identity: Clarifying the distinct core roles, competencies, and values of CHWs.
- Advocate for Workforce Sustainability: Ensuring CHWs receive fair compensation, career advancement opportunities, and safe, supportive work environments.
- Strengthen Community Ties: Highlighting real stories of CHWs who bridge the gap between complex health systems and the everyday lives of the community.
Get Involved: Honor, Advocate, and Connect
Celebrating National CHW Awareness Week is an invitation for everyone, CHWs, allies, healthcare executives, and community members, to step up and support this movement.
Share Your Story: Are you a CHW or have you worked alongside one? Use your voice on social media or message us directly to share how CHWs make a difference in your community.
Click HERE to submit your Impact Story
Partner with MNCHWA: Join the Alliance as a member, attend our upcoming events, or advocate for champion CHW workforce development in your organization. Contact us below!
Stay Informed: Subscribe to receive our monthly newsletter, participate in a committee or workgroup to learn more about Minnesota’s CHW field statewide priorities.
To Our CHW’s:
Stay connected with us and help us continue to better understand the communities you serve by updating your CHW Registry Profile. For your reference, please watch the 3-minute walkthrough on how to update your profile.
Together, we bring awareness and thanks to CHWs. Together, we honor where we came from, celebrate where we are today, and build a healthier, more equitable future for all.