HCAI says it will not launch statewide CHW certificate now, reallocates $12–$13 million to training and capacity building

The Department of Health Care Access and Information told community health worker, promotor(a) and representative (CHWPR) stakeholders that it will not implement a statewide individual certificate program and will instead use roughly $12 million to $13 million in remaining one‑time funds for a four‑pillar funding framework that emphasizes immigrant community support and organizational capacity building.

Libby Abbott, deputy director of HCAI’s Office of Healthcare Workforce Development, summarized the agency’s course of action during a stakeholder briefing, saying, “we will not be implementing a statewide certificate program.” Abbott added that the remaining funds are “not enough money to stand up a comprehensive, accreditation or certification function and maintain it over time.”

The decision follows a multi‑year process. HCAI said it was charged on 06/30/2022 with developing statewide certificate program requirements for the CHWPR workforce and issued a guidance letter on 07/01/2023 proposing a statewide certificate. After community feedback, HCAI paused implementation in November 2023 and conducted a second round of stakeholder engagement from February through November 2024. The Budget Act of 2024 substantially reduced state funding for the initiative, leaving HCAI with about $12–$13 million in one‑time funds, Abbott said.

Why it matters: CHWPRs provide outreach, navigation and direct support to populations that the health system struggles to reach. Abbott told attendees that HCAI and its partners at…