CDC Awards More than $300 Million for CHW COVID-19 Activities

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded more than $116 million in the first year of a three-year, $348 million program to support community health worker (CHW) services related to COVID-19 prevention and control. The CDC also awarded more than $6 million of a four-year $32 million program for training, technical assistance, and evaluation.

These awards, funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, will provide critical support to states, localities, territories, tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, and health services providers for tribes. Award amounts were determined by population size, poverty rates, and COVID-19 statistics.

The funded is intended for recipients to address:

• Disparities in access to COVID-19-related services included testing, contact tracing, and immunization
• Factors that increase risk of severe COVID-19 illness such as chronic diseases, smoking, and pregnancy
• Community needs that have been exacerbated by COVID-19, including health and mental health care access and food insecurity

Recipients of the CHW awards include Alameda, San Diego, San Joaquin, Sonoma, and Tulare counties in California. Two tribal organizations were also funded in California.

Additional information about the awards is available here.