Missouri Foundation for Health recently published a report on Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Missouri.
CHWs work in a variety of settings including community-based organizations, health centers, hospitals, local public health agencies or health departments, pharmacies, and schools. They often work with specific populations such as people in recovery from addiction, those managing a chronic disease, gun violence survivors, people with justice system involvement, or children in the foster care system.
There were 1800+ CHWs working in Missouri in 2022. The CHW workforce is expected to grow by 9% by 2030. There are currently 15 state-certified curriculum providers, several of which are community or technical colleges.
Current challenges for community health workers: inconsistent job responsibilities, inadequate pay, lack of career advancement, burnout, and lack of sustainable funding.
Report recommendations include: providing additional infrastructure support and funding to promote long-term employment, implementing CHW roles into overall strategies, and promoting increased understanding of the roles CHWs play and their importance.
Comments