Community health workers (CHWs), doulas, and peer support specialists (PSSs) help address health problems and social challenges in their communities. Although they’ve supported communities for years, California’s Medi-Cal program only recently began covering their services, CHWs and PSSs in July 2022, and doulas in January 2023. In 2024, the California Health Care Foundation … [Read more...] about Understanding and Alignment Among CHW/P/Rs, Doulas, and Peer Support Specialists
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Understanding Community Health Workers/Promotores/Representatives, Doulas, and Peer Support Specialists in Medi-Cal
Community health workers (CHWs), doulas, and peer support specialists (PSSs) play a key role in improving health and reducing health gaps. Though they have worked in communities for years, Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) has recently started covering their services. This summary explains who they are, how their roles are similar or different, and what services they … [Read more...] about Understanding Community Health Workers/Promotores/Representatives, Doulas, and Peer Support Specialists in Medi-Cal
Comparing Three Medi-Cal Benefits: Community Health Workers, Doulas, and Peer Support Specialists
This document compares three Medi-Cal services that started in 2022 and 2023: community health workers (CHWs), doulas, and peer support specialists (PSS). It shows how their roles, services, and payment systems differ. CHWs include promotores and community health representatives who support Spanish-speaking and Native communities. The document focuses on core services covered … [Read more...] about Comparing Three Medi-Cal Benefits: Community Health Workers, Doulas, and Peer Support Specialists
Dual Certification Of Community Health Workers And Certified Peer Support Specialists Can Better Address Syndemics
Public health crises like HIV, hepatitis C, and opioid overdoses often overlap, worsening health disparities, especially in marginalized communities. Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Peer Support Specialists (PSSs) play crucial roles in addressing these challenges—CHWs focus on health education and resource navigation, while PSSs provide support through lived experience in … [Read more...] about Dual Certification Of Community Health Workers And Certified Peer Support Specialists Can Better Address Syndemics
State Community Health Worker Policies
Community health workers (CHWs) played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in underserved communities. Their impact has led states to explore long-term partnerships and funding solutions to sustain their work. Many states are now authorizing Medicaid reimbursement and using multiple funding sources to support CHW services. This NASHP’s research provides an … [Read more...] about State Community Health Worker Policies
