THE OPPORTUNITY
Across the United States, the demand for Community-Based Workforces (CBWs) prevention, outreach, and coordination services is on the rise. Housing is less affordable. Youth mental health needs are increasing. Preventable chronic disease continues to burden communities. Despite more families looking to CBWs for practical, effective solutions, community-based professionals are still not fully supported and are experiencing a dramatic decline in federal, state, and private funding.
Without long-term continued investment in CBWs, preventable illness, healthcare costs, and inequities will continue to rise. Strengthening CBWs is one of the most cost‑effective, community‑driven strategies we have—and the Community-Based Workforce Alliance (CBWA) brings together community leaders, advocates, and organizations to make sure we sustain, strengthen and protect this crucial workforce.
WHAT IS A COMMUNITY-BASED WORKFORCE?
Community‑Based Workforces—local, trusted professionals—are improving health and strengthening families with compassion and respect. They are the people others turn to first, not because of a title, but because of trust, shared life experience, and a proven record of delivering better health. While skills and roles vary, members of a community-based workforce share common experiences and traits:
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Live in and share culture, language, and life experiences with the members of the communities they serve
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Have earned and enjoy a deep level of trust with peers and neighbors
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Demonstrate strong relational expertise and interpersonal communication skills
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Have deep relationships and knowledge of local community-based resources
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Demonstrate a long-standing commitment to advancing equity and health in historically marginalized and minority communities
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Aim to promote health and racial equity for residents of a particular place or community, not just patients belonging to a particular healthcare panel or payer
A community-based workforce includes trained community-based professionals such as community health workers; promotores de salud; community-based social workers; community-based, nongovernmental nonprofit staff and human services providers; and other trusted community-based professionals (e.g. doulas, peer specialists, recovery coaches).
With specialized training and support from experienced, trained community-based professionals, lay workers or “natural helpers” who live in highly impacted communities can support and pursue careers in a community-based workforce. These lay workers may include unemployed residents and retirees, students or recent graduates, and lay community-based leaders (i.e., faith-based leaders, barbershop owners, leaders of neighborhood mutual aid groups, etc.).