The CHW Workforce Collaborative is a national partnership of community health organizations to expand local COVID-19 vaccine outreach and education initiatives.

The CHW Workforce Collaborative began in 2021 under the $9.5 million grant awarded June 14, 2021 by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Community-Based Workforce to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations in Underserved Communities HRSA HSB Funding Cycle 1.

In Febuary 2022, the Collaborative was awarded $9.8 million through federal American Rescue Plan funding for the Community- Based Workforce to Build COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence HSB Funding Cycle 2.

Throughout the website, the first round of funding (6/1/2021 – 5/31/2023) will be referred to as CHW 1. The second round of funding (6/1/2022 – 9/30/2023) will be referred to as CHW 2.

Photo of a worker in the field with a patient

Dedicated to serving our Asian, Asian American (A/AA), Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (NH/PI) communities

Learn More

Photo courtesy of West Hawaii Community Health Center.

Focused on addressing vaccine hesitancy and the challenges each community faces in accessing culturally tailored care.

Hear from CHWs

Photo courtesy of West Hawaii Community Health Center.

Healthcare worker in the field with a patient.

Stories from the Field

“A certain patient was hesitant to get vaccinated but agreed to be scheduled for vaccination anyway. She arrived an hour early for her morning vaccination appointment but hesitated. The clinical staff, community health workers, and fellow patients tried to encourage her but she refused yet she did not leave the site. She sat and watched the other patients receive the vaccine and the CHW who speaks the same language and from the same culture continued to educate and reach out to her.

Finally, after over three hours of waiting, she decided to get vaccinated. After she got the vaccine, the staff and patients clapped, danced, sang, and cheered for the patient. It was a very happy moment. The same patient served as an encouragement to others in her community to receive the vaccine. This is an example of how a CHW makes a difference motivating and educating patients to receive the vaccine especially if they share the same culture and language.”

— Kalihi-Palama Health Center (June/July 2021)