Community Health Workers, Promotores, and Representatives (CHW/P/R) Initiative
Español │ | Հայերեն | ភាសាខ្មែរ | 普通话 | English | فارسی | हिन्दी | Hmoob | 日本語 | 한국어 | ພາສາລາວ | luMien | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ | Русский | Tagalog | ภาษาไทย | Tiếng Việt | ASL
Many Californians face barriers to accessing healthcare and social services. Community Health Workers, Promotores, and Representatives (CHW/P/Rs) help bridge those gaps by providing trusted, culturally responsive support and connections to services. Through the CHW/P/R Initiative, California is investing in this workforce to strengthen communities, improve access to care and services, and advance health equity.
What is the CHW/P/R Initiative?
The Community Health Workers, Promotores, and Representatives (CHW/P/R) Initiative is a statewide effort to strengthen California’s community health workforce. Through funding, training resources, partnerships, and community engagement, the initiative supports the people and organizations helping Californians connect to healthcare and social services.
CHW/P/Rs are trusted members of the communities they serve. They often share the language, culture, and lived experiences of the people they support, helping build trust and connect individuals to services and resources.
Community Health Workers (CHWs)
Serve a wide range of communities.
Promotores
Often support Spanish-speaking communities, including immigrant and mixed-status communities.
Representatives
Often serve Tribal and Native American communities.
Informed by statewide community engagement and advisory workgroups, the program is part of the part of the California Health and Human Services Agency’s (CalHHS) Workforce for a Healthy California Initiative, which expands and diversifies California’s health workforce through coordinated programs, resources, and investments.
What is HCAI’s Role in the CHW/P/R Initiative?
HCAI works with community organizations, state partners, training providers, and CHW/P/Rs across California to strengthen and sustain the workforce. Through funding, partnerships, and resource development, HCAI strengthens California’s CHW/P/R workforce while working alongside the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), which established the Medi-Cal CHW Benefit and continues to support uptake of the benefit.
HCAI does not administer any statewide CHW/P/R certificate or training program accreditation. HCAI administers one-time funding through grant programs.
Current Focus
Current efforts are focused on community-based services, workforce investments, and training resources that support CHW/P/Rs and the organizations that employ and train them.
HCAI’s work focuses on three connected strategies that support both the workforce and the communities they serve.
Medi-Cal CHW Benefit
The DHCS CHW Medi-Cal benefit remains in place. CHW/P/Rs supporting Medi-Cal members through the benefit must meet minimum qualifications, have lived experience connected to the community or population served, and be supervised by an eligible Medi-Cal provider or organization. Details are available in the DHCS CHW Provider Manual.
Upcoming Events and Webinars
CHW/P/R Best Practices Framework Overview
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 | 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. PT
Hosted by our partner Community Health Synergy | Sponsored by the California Health Care Foundation.
Learn about HCAI’s voluntary CHW/P/R Training Program Best Practices Framework. Learn what the framework covers and how training organizations can use it to strengthen their programs. Live Spanish interpretation will be available
Mitigating Burnout in Community Health Workers and Lived-Experience Staff
Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. PT
Hosted by our partner Health Leads as part of Amplifying Impact
Join our partner Health Leads for an Amplifying Impact webinar on how organizations can recognize burnout and better support CHW/P/R well-being. Panelists will discuss practical approaches beyond individual self-care.
Resources
HCAI CHW/P/R Community Dialogue Summary Report | May 2025
Summary of the Initiative timeline, statewide community dialogue findings, and workforce development priorities.
English | Spanish
HCAI Community Dialogue Summary Webinar | June 18, 2025
Overview of statewide community dialogue findings, workforce priorities, and Initiative updates shared during the public webinar.
Recording | Presentation | FAQs
DHCS CHW Medi-Cal Benefit Resources
Key definitions, eligibility criteria, and billing information for CHW/P/R Medi-Cal benefit requirements.
DHCS CHW Provider Manual | DHCS All Plan Letter
California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) Resource Center │May 2026
Collection of tools (i.e., case studies, tip sheets, FAQs) to help community providers and managed care plans deliver CHW/P/R services through Medi-Cal.
CHCF CHW/P/R Resource Center
Contact Us
Email: CHW@hcai.ca.gov
Subscribe
To receive updates regarding the CHW/P/R initiative specifically, please email CHW@hcai.ca.gov and share your name, affiliation, and email. You will be added to a listserv through which periodic updates and invitations for engagement are shared.