Community Health Workers Are Here to Help. Now Let’s Step Up to Help Them Out

Across Massachusetts, Community Health Workers (CHWs) are often the first people families turn to in times of crisis. Whether someone is facing housing instability, food insecurity, or a mental health emergency, CHWs are there to help. CHWs provide far more than referrals. They are trusted neighbors, cultural interpreters, and advocates who work alongside people when systems feel overwhelming or out of reach.

But without better support and recognition for our beloved CHWs, we risk losing these very people who hold our communities together.

Over the past few months, we at the nonprofit Asian Women for Health have had the privilege of speaking directly with CHWs from across Massachusetts. Their stories were deeply personal. They all showed a fierce commitment to their communities, despite facing the daily challenge of meeting growing needs without needed tools or recognition.

Many began their roles with little or no formal training, learning on the job while helping clients navigate complex housing applications, insurance systems, and emotional crises. Bilingual CHWs described being called on to translate not just language, but also culture — an invisible labor essential to community health but rarely acknowledged or compensated.

Housing came up in nearly every conversation. CHWs spoke of systems at their limit, affordable housing in short supply, and waitlists that stretch for years. Some have built their own lists of housing contacts or taught themselves how to work through complicated forms to keep someone from falling through the cracks.

The ability to ensure their clients are well nourished surfaced as a growing concern. While food pantries and meal programs exist, they often fall short of meeting cultural or nutritional needs. One CHW recalled helping an elder who received food that they did not recognize and did not know how to prepare. Other CHWs shared that they regularly deliver groceries themselves or connect families with trusted local vendors to ensure they get food they can eat and enjoy.

Mental and emotional health needs are also mounting. Many CHWs support clients who are isolated, overwhelmed, or living with trauma. They are often the only people who listen without judgment. Yet, few receive training to manage this emotional weight and even fewer are given the space or resources to care for their own mental health.

Despite these challenges, CHWs remain deeply committed to their work. They see their impact they make when a community member secures stable housing, reconnects with care, or feels truly heard and seen. But they cannot keep doing it alone.

At Asian Women for Health, we are responding by expanding our CHW Training Program to provide training and job placement for the next generation of CHWs. The program provides emerging CHWs with core competencies and practical skills in areas like trauma-informed care, advocacy strategies, and resource navigation. The program is grounded in lived experience and real-world scenarios, providing an opportunity for CHWs to practice cultural humility and bring their own stories to their work. We offer stipends, peer learning spaces, and continued support beyond graduation, ensuring CHWs are not just trained, but sustained.

This is one step toward our vision: a future where CHWs are trained, supported, and valued as leaders in health equity. We invite partners, policymakers, and community organizations to join us in building that future.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a CHW, sign up via awfh.org/CHW-Interest to stay updated on CHW Training opportunities.

When we invest in CHWs, we are investing in the health, dignity, and strengthening of our communities. Join us in building that future.

For more, visit https://asianwomenforhealth.org.

The writer of this column is the executive director of Asian Women for Health.