Effective Ways to Engage Community Health Workers in the COVID-19 Period: Examples from CHW Programs in Massachusetts

Health care and social service systems are facing exceptional demands at this time. Evidence is emerging that the COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately impacting low-income neighborhoods, communities of color, immigrant and other economically and medically vulnerable patients. These are the patients and communities Community Health Workers (CHWs) are best prepared to serve. This workforce is defined by their connection to these populations and by their ability to communicate in linguistically and culturally appropriate ways.