Description
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is partnering with 10 organizations to implement a new program, the Massachusetts Community Health Workers for Resilient Communities (MA CRC) Program. Over 3 years, the MA CRC will distribute $10.65 million to 10 community partners in 9 priority communities.
Beginning in January 2022, funds will be used to place community health workers (CHWs) in clinical care settings and local boards of health. Program activities will focus on the training and deployment of community health workers to respond to the immediate needs of communities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and to build community resilience to protect against inequities in future emergencies.
Specific efforts
- Community Health Workers in Community-Based Clinical Care
- Places community health workers (CHWs) in primary care settings in 10 partner organizations (2 CHWs per site)
- Promotes COVID-19 vaccination, education, and prevention
- Supports efforts to address health-related social needs and provide links to social services, such as transportation, housing, and food security
- Will facilitate the re-engagement of patients in primary care who may have become disengaged due to the pandemic
- Community Health Workers in Local Boards of Health
- Places community health workers in the local board of health in the same city/town as the clinical partner organization (1 CHW per partner, with seven participating partners)
- Utilizes collaboration with community coalitions to build long-term community resilience and protect against inequities in future emergencies
- Supports efforts to address food systems, built environment (such as housing), and other social factors impacting health
- Establish a Community Health Workers COVID Action Collaborative
- Includes representatives from the State Office of Community Health Workers, the State Office of Local and Regional Health, the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, and the Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers
- Supports the implementation, administration, and evaluation of the MA CRC program
| Amount | $10.65M ($3.55M per year for 3 years) |
|---|---|
| Relevant dates | Funding to begin January 2022 |
Program funding
|
Partner Organization |
Funding Amount |
Municipality Served |
|---|---|---|
|
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program* |
$400,000 |
Boston |
|
Whittier Street Health Center |
$250,000 |
Boston |
|
Brockton Neighborhood Health Center* |
$400,000 |
Brockton |
|
MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center* |
$400,000 |
Chelsea |
|
Cambridge Health Alliance - Everett Care Center* |
$400,000 |
Everett |
|
Cambridge Health Alliance - Malden Care Center* |
$400,000 |
Malden |
|
Cambridge Health Alliance - Revere Care Center* |
$400,000 |
Revere |
|
Lowell Community Health Center |
$250,000 |
Lowell |
|
Baystate Health and Caring Health Center |
$250,000 |
Springfield |
|
Family Health Center of Worcester* |
$400,000 |
Worcester |
(*Indicates partners who will place community health workers in the local board of health, in addition to the primary care setting.)