[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 158 (Thursday, September 28, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 381--SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF AUGUST 
  28 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1, 2023, AS ``NATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER 
                            AWARENESS WEEK''

  Mr. CASEY (for himself, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. Gillibrand, and 
Mr. Blumenthal) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 381

       Whereas a community health worker is a frontline public 
     health worker who is a trusted member of the community in 
     which the worker serves and has an unusually close 
     understanding of that community that enables the worker to 
     build trusted relationships, serve as a liaison between 
     health and social services and the community, facilitate 
     access to services, improve the quality and cultural 
     competence of service delivery, build individual and 
     community capacity, and increase health knowledge and self-
     sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, 
     community education, informal counseling, social support, and 
     advocacy;
       Whereas community health workers are a unique workforce, 
     recognized in 36 States with a professional certification;
       Whereas community health workers are a community-based 
     workforce that builds relationships with those around them 
     and helps build treatment capacity in underserved areas;
       Whereas community health workers are a historic and diverse 
     workforce that goes back hundreds of years in the United 
     States and reflects the diversity of the country;
       Whereas community health workers have been known by many 
     different titles, including community health representatives, 
     promotoras de salud, aunties, peers, and outreach workers;
       Whereas community health workers are a cross-sector 
     workforce that connects community members to health care and 
     other social services, reducing barriers to health and well-
     being;
       Whereas community health workers are a proven workforce 
     with decades of research documenting effectiveness in 
     maternal and child health, chronic disease interventions, 
     immunization, oral health, HIV, primary care, and many other 
     disciplines and have a documented return on investment for 
     many programs;
       Whereas sustainable funding of community health workers 
     supports fair market wages and enhanced recruitment and 
     retention of the workforce;
       Whereas community health workers fulfill a wide range of 
     roles, including--
       (1) providing cultural mediation among individuals, 
     communities, and health and social service systems;
       (2) offering culturally appropriate health education and 
     information;
       (3) offering care coordination, case management, and system 
     navigation;
       (4) providing coaching and social support;
       (5) advocating for individuals and communities;
       (6) building individual and community capacity;
       (7) providing direct service;
       (8) implementing individual and community assessments;
       (9) conducting outreach; and
       (10) participating in evaluation and research; and
       Whereas community health worker networks are statewide, 
     regional, or local associations or coalitions with leadership 
     and membership that are composed of at least 50 percent 
     community health workers, promotoras, or community health 
     representatives and whose activities include training, 
     workforce development, mentoring, and other initiatives to 
     support community health worker, promotora, and community 
     health representative programs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Community 
     Health Worker Awareness Week;
       (2) recognizes the significant contributions of community 
     health workers to the health care system and communities 
     across the United States;
       (3) encourages collaboration at the local, State, and 
     Federal levels to raise awareness of the important role of 
     community health workers; and
       (4) supports the work of community health workers to 
     improve health outcomes in underserved and high-need 
     communities.

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