This summer, HRiA became the fiscal home for the Massachusetts Alliance of Community Health Workers (MACHW). HRiA is pleased to support the important work of Community Health Workers and a mission that aligns with our own, and welcomes Lisette Blondet.
Over its 17-year history, MACHW has advocated for policies and programs that promote best practices for Community Health Workers (CHWs). Among its significant accomplishments are the inclusion of CHWs in Massachusetts’s health reform legislation and swift passage of the Massachusetts certification law. Currently, MACHW is working to position CHWs within Accountable Care Organizations (ACO), establish a strong statewide presence, and ensure the professional growth of CHWs. To operationalize this vision, MACHW will expand its membership through six regional chapters (MACHWitas) that will provide training, support, and technical assistance to CHWs and their employers.
Later this fall, MACHW will launch the CHW Employer Resource Center, an interactive, online portal that will offer best practice information, training, and resources for orienting and integrating CHWs within patient-centered medical homes. The Resource Center also includes a job bank that will allow employers to post positions and for CHWs to apply online. MACHW is funded by the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Partners HealthCare, and hospital community benefit support.
