Health systems that want to serve underserved communities increasingly recognize the value of meeting people where they are, culturally, geographically and socially. Meaningful community engagement depends on trusted relationships, sustained presence and culturally informed support that extends beyond clinical settings.
Community health workers (CHWs) play a critical role in this work. Embedded in the communities they serve, CHWs help patients navigate care, connect to social supports, overcome barriers to access and build trust between health systems and the people they serve. Their impact is often felt most clearly at the neighborhood level, improving continuity, engagement and real-world outcomes for underserved populations.
URAC’s Community Health Worker Program Accreditation helps organizations strengthen and sustain these programs by focusing on how CHWs are trained, supported, supervised and integrated into care teams. When organizations invest in the infrastructure behind CHW programs, such as by earning URAC accreditation, community health workers are better supported in their roles, enabling them to make an even greater difference in the communities that rely on them.
