SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity granting money to an organization supporting the inclusion of community health workers (CHW) in health teams.
This grant funding will support CHW programs around the state to promote an understanding and awareness to what exactly CHWs do. CHWs are trusted members of their communities, bridging the gap between health care and social services to the community. The IDPH is currently working on integrating CHWs into public health, health care, and human services organizations as well as increase the supply of a diverse and highly qualified CHW workforce in the state.
“Illinois’s public health depends on building trust in our communities,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Community health workers are critical frontline workers who have a closer understanding of the communities they serve. We encourage organizations to apply for this meaningful opportunity to raise awareness of community health workers and support the integration of their work into our health system.”
The initial grant awards up to $25,00 to an organization to develop a plan to promote and advance the CHW workforce in the state. Upon development, the grantee will be eligible for non-competitive annual “continuation grants” to implement the plan for up to three years with a maximum award of approximately $2 million.