Community health workers and allies, united to build power and move policy
We’re a national, CHW-led coalition fighting for professional recognition and sustainable financing for community health workers. Together, we build power and move state and federal policy so CHWs are fairly paid and sustainably integrated into health and social service systems.
The threats are real, and so are the opportunities
Community health workers are trusted neighbors, care navigators and frontline responders. Decades of evidence show that CHWs improve health, lower costs and reach the people health and social service systems too often miss or marginalize.
For generations, CHWs have organized to build their profession: founding state associations, defining their own roles and core competencies, and winning recognition in state and federal policy. But the policies and funding that sustain this workforce haven’t kept pace, and that work now meets a pivotal moment.
Deep cuts to Medicaid and public health, along with new eligibility rules, will put coverage at risk for millions of people, just when families most need CHWs to help them keep coverage and stay connected to care. At the same time, the Rural Health Transformation Program is bringing major new investment to every state, and 43 out of 50 states have included CHWs in their plans. That’s a real opening to build CHWs into the future of rural care and invest in training and career pathways.
The Coalition exists to make sure CHWs, and the expertise we’ve built over decades, shape what comes next in state and federal policy.
Building on a strong foundation
The Coalition builds on national CHW advocacy previously coordinated by the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW) and PIH-US, together with CHW and ally partners. From 2022–25, that work generated:
650+
CHWs and allies engaged in CHW policy advocacy across all 50 states
200+
meetings with congressional offices
45
congressional champions (24 Senators and 21 Representatives)
Today: 80+ member organizations and growing.
Figures reflect advocacy coordinated by NACHW, PIH-US and partners from 2022 to 2025. Read our story →
What we do
Federal advocacy
We run coordinated national campaigns to educate policymakers and build bipartisan support for CHWs. See our campaigns →
State policy
We connect CHW leaders across states to map their policy landscapes, share what’s working and build effective advocacy strategies. Learn more →
Organizing and power-building
We build CHW leadership and collective power, so CHWs shape the policies that shape their profession. Get involved →
CHW-led by design
CHWs hold the majority on our Steering Committee, and a CHW Advisory Committee keeps frontline voices at the center of our strategy. Allies are essential partners, and they follow CHW leadership. Meet our leaders →
80+ organizations and counting
State CHW associations, community-based organizations, policy groups, CHW employers, researchers and health systems from across the country stand together in the Coalition. See our members →
This is a coalition of action.
Join as an organization or an individual, come to our monthly meeting, and help shape what comes next.