Open AccessWinning Policy Change to Promote Community Health Workers: Lessons From Massachusetts in The Health Reform Era
Author(s) -
Terry Mason,
Geoffrey Wilkinson,
Angela Nannini,
Cindy Marti Martin,
Durrell J. Fox,
Gail R. Hirsch
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2011.300402
Subject(s) - workforce , context (archaeology) , public health , alliance , health policy , political science , legislature , public relations , economic growth , community health , health care , health care reform , health promotion , public administration , medicine , nursing , paleontology , law , economics , biology
There is a national movement among community health workers (CHWs) to improve compensation, working conditions, and recognition for the workforce through organizing for policy change. As some of the key advocates involved, we describe the development in Massachusetts of an authentic collaboration between strong CHW leaders of a growing statewide CHW association and their public health allies. Collaborators worked toward CHW workforce and public health objectives through alliance building and organizing, legislative advocacy, and education in the context of opportunities afforded by health care reform. This narrative of the path to policy achievements can inform other collaborative efforts attempting to promote a policy agenda for the CHW workforce across the nation.