Key for Acquisition Type (alpha order):
RFA = Request for Application
RFB = Request for Bid
RFI = Request for Information
RFP = Request for Proposal
DHS is interested in providing funding to ADRCs to implement a community health worker (CHW) model in order to address the health, safety, and socioeconomic wellbeing of older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers in rural communities that have been and continue to be disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The community health worker (CHW) model employs one or more frontline workers who are trusted members of and/or have an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the CHW to serve as a liaison between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. CHWs may serve a variety of functions, including client advocacy; increasing health literacy, preventive health education and services; facilitation of care-coordination; provision of other services; and connections to community resources.
The Advancing CHW Engagement in COVID-19 Response Strategies playbook offers strategies to help conceptualize and operationalize the engagement of CHWs for pandemic response. This playbook should serve as a guide as you develop your CHW model. This document and other helpful resources can be found on the National Association of Community Health Workers Document Resource Center.