The critical importance of community health workers as first responders to COVID-19 in USA

Abstract

COVID-19 has served to exacerbate existing health disparities and inequities, most-if not all-of which can be traced to the social determinants of health (SDOH) that affect specific populations and communities. Essential to health and health systems long before, community health workers are experts in addressing SDOH in community-based settings; however, they have yet to be mobilized as part of the COVID-19 response both in the US and internationally. We use data from our mixed-methods study with supervisors (n=6), Executive Directors (EDs) (n=7), and CHWs (n=90) to describe the critical role that CHWs can play to assist in response to COVID-19 using New York State's (NYS) as a case example. Building on these findings, we raise specific CHW workforce issues and propose recommendations for how to mobilize this workforce in national pandemic response efforts.

Keywords: COVID-19; community health workers; racial and health disparities; workforce support.