Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Community health workers

The People's Agenda: Planting the Seeds for a Healthy Tomorrow: CHW/P/R Policy Agenda
Describes policy approaches for growth, equity, and sustainability of California's community health worker, promotora, and community health representative (CHW/P/R) workforce. See pages 11-12 for discussion of increasing recruitment and support for underrepresented health workers, including rural and Native CHW/P/Rs.
Date: 2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Community Health Workers, Promotoras, and Representatives Policy Coalition (CHW/P/R Coalition)
view details
Behavioral Health Workforce, 2023
Offers data on the supply and distribution of the behavioral health workforce and factors impacting that workforce. Includes projected workforce shortages to 2036 and compares rural and urban shortages. Discusses unmet needs for different populations, scope of practice, reimbursement rates, retention, and workforce wellbeing. Describes strategies to improve access to behavioral healthcare around integrated care, community health workers, and telehealth.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
view details
Bridging a Care Gap: Policy Opportunities for Improving Access to Home-Based Primary Care
Recording of a panel discussion on home-based primary care for rural older adults and policies that could address challenges with offering and accessing home-based primary care. Discusses telehealth, broadband, community infrastructure, service models, community health workers, and more. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Duke Margolis Institute for Health Policy
view details
Assessing Social Needs and Engaging Community Health Workers in Underserved Kansas Counties: Insights From Primary Care Providers and Clinic Managers
Details a study exploring how rural and underserved urban communities in Kansas are screening for social determinants of health and using community health workers to address challenges. Bases findings on surveys of providers and clinic managers.
Author(s): Kristina M. Bridges, Joseph W. LeMaster, Daniel J. Parente, et al
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 14
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
view details
Virginia Oral Health Workforce Gap Assessment
Report describing challenges in ensuring that all Virginians have equitable access oral healthcare, and offering an actionable framework for addressing them. Features statistics on the Virginia oral healthcare workforce, including numbers of dentists and dental hygienists, numbers of dentists treating Medicaid patients by year from 2012-2022, and a map showing dental Health Professional Shortage Areas. Includes information about the Virginia state loan repayment program for eligible providers.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Health Catalyst
view details
Breast Cancer Disparity and Outcomes in Underserved Women
Provides an overview of breast cancer disparities experienced by underserved and vulnerable women. Discusses racial and ethnic groups, gender minority population, and rural population, and highlights the significance of social determinants of health. Describes strategies to mitigate disparities and improve access, including education and engagement, community health workers, mobile mammography, and care coordination.
Author(s): B Bersu Ozcan, Başak E. Dogan, Ann R. Mootz, et al.
Citation: RadioGraphics, 44(1), 230090
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
view details
Texas Statewide Behavioral Health Strategic Plan: Progress Report
Report summarizing progress of the Texas Fiscal Years 2022-2026 Statewide Behavioral Health Strategic Plan. Discusses mental health workforce shortages, recruitment and retention of workforce, telehealth, loan repayment, community health workers, and incentivizing rural practice. Discusses rural throughout. Includes priority next steps and outlines strategies by various Texas state agencies.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Texas Statewide Health Coordinating Council
view details
Improving Access to Primary Care for Underserved Populations: A Review of Findings from Five Case Studies and Recommendations
Summarizes and synthesizes the findings from a series of five case studies that explored the impact of policy initiatives that aim to improve access to primary care. Covers increasing the availability of primary care providers, improving underserved communities' access to outpatient clinics, removing structural barriers to care, making primary care affordable, and improving comfort and communication between providers and patients. Presents recommendations for federal and state policymakers, primary care practices, medical schools, and other relevant stakeholders. Includes rural examples and considerations throughout.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Maanasa Kona, Jalisa Clark, Emma Walsh-Alker
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Center on Health Insurance Reforms, Milbank Memorial Fund, National Institute for Health Care Reform
view details
Council on Graduate Medical Education Meeting Minutes, September 8, 2023
Summarizes the Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME) meeting held on September 8, 2023. Includes an update from the White House COVID-19 Response Team, among other things. Features presentations on team-based care through the Quality Payment Program and Interprofessional Practice and Education and a Whole Health Approach. Include rural references throughout.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Council on Graduate Medical Education
view details
"This Is Not My Grandmother's Summer": Rural Populations Are Uniquely Vulnerable to the Health Impacts of Extreme Heat
Discusses the challenges rural areas face in helping address the impact of heat on health. Includes strategies used in rural North Carolina, Indiana, and Washington State to help inform and protect rural residents, including those exposed to heat through work outdoors.
Author(s): Brendan Stermer
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details