The Board of Supervisors on Aug. 5 unanimously directed county health departments and the Office of Immigrant Affairs to develop a coordinated plan to support promotoras and community health workers, citing growing community fear related to increased immigration enforcement and the important role peer workers play as trusted messengers.

The motion, authored by Supervisors Hilda Solis and Janice Hahn and co‑authored by others, asks the Department of Mental Health, Department of Public Health, Department of Health Services, the County’s Center for Strategic Partnerships and the Office of Immigrant Affairs to convene a promotoras/community health worker consortium and return with recommendations on: mental‑health supports for promotoras, immigration legal assistance options, training needs to expand community navigation for health and social services, and ways to strengthen promotoras’ capacity during enforcement events.

Speakers at the board meeting and representatives from community organizations and consortia of promotoras said the workers are already filling gaps in government outreach, helping families access vaccines, benefits and emergency services, but that the promotoras themselves need trauma‑informed counseling, immigration‑law guidance and financial sustainability. Several promotoras and community organizations testified in person, calling for predictable funding and mental‑health supports for the workforce.

What the board directed: The board approved the motion 4–0 to instruct Health, Mental Health, the CEO, the Office of Immigrant Affairs and community partners to report back within 30 days (per the motion text) with identified needs, training curricula and proposed supports, including recommendations for legal assistance and mental‑health resources for promotoras and community health workers.

Why it matters: Promotoras and community health workers are frequently the first point of contact for immigrant families, particularly in outreach for vaccinations, sheltering, and other public‑health interventions. County leaders said additional supports are needed as the community navigates new federal enforcement dynamics and to prevent burnout among front‑line community workers.