Florida Community Health Worker Coalition
The Florida Community Health Worker Coalition is the recognized leader and professional home for Community Health Workers (CHWs) across the state. As a statewide, multisector partnership, we are committed to advancing the CHW profession and improving health outcomes for Florida’s uninsured and underinsured populations.
Through collaboration, training, advocacy, and leadership, we work to address disparities and empower CHWs as essential frontline professionals. Together—with your support—we can strengthen communities and improve health outcomes throughout Florida.
The Florida Community Health Worker Coalition was established in 2010 as part of a Policy, Environmental, and Systems Change (PES) grant awarded to the Florida Department of Health. This initiative led to the formation of a statewide task force charged with examining current research, CHW models, curricula, and best practices to build a sustainable marketplace for CHWs. The effort was strategically aligned with the Governor-appointed Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council (CCRAB), reinforcing its commitment to evidence-based public health advancement.
Each year, the Florida Community Health Worker Coalition identifies priority populations and examines the unique health challenges and social and economic barriers they face. This information is then systematically shared with the co-chairs and members of the subgroups—Policy & Workforce Development, Curriculum & Practice, Networking & Communications, and Research & Sustainability—so these teams can collaboratively identify evidence-based strategies for achieving the best possible health outcomes. Our subgroups center the voices of CHWs and those they serve, advancing our holistic commitment to connection, care, and community. Beyond convening, these subgroups shape our understanding of key issues, guide the development of action plans, and ensure every initiative is both community-led and CHW-focused.
We are intentional in cultivating partnerships across local, state, and federal levels, recognizing that collaboration is essential to integrating CHWs into systems of care.
WHAT IS A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER?
A Community Health Worker or CHW is...
A frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community being served. This trusting relationship enables the CHW to serve as a link between services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.
CHWs go by many names...
Promotoras de Salud, care coordinator, peer educator, navigator, community health advocate, health educator, peer support specialist, outreach worker, community connector, lay health worker, among other job titles.
We serve in many roles...
Navigating complex insurance applications, finding food assistance, accessing services for older adults or family members with disabilities, we educate and screen for chronic health conditions, and much more.
We practice...
We practice active listening recognizing the dignity of all and fostering empathy.
OUR MISSION
To advance and strengthen the Community Health Worker profession through education, advocacy, and strategic multi-sector partnerships, ensuring Community Health Workers are recognized, integrated, and supported as essential members of Florida’s health workforce.
OUR VISION
Community Health Workers transforming Florida communities for a healthier tomorrow.
OUR VALUES
We believe in:
Community: Rooted in and guided by the communities we serve. We honor lived experiences, cultural strengths, and local knowledge. Our work prioritizes community voices to ensure that programs and policies reflect real needs and realities.
Trust: The foundation of our relationships. We build and maintain trust through integrity, transparency, and competence
Caring: Lead with compassion, empathy, and respect. Caring guides how we engage with individuals, families, and one another. We recognize the dignity and worth of every person and approach our work with kindness
Empowered: Individuals and communities have the power to create change. We strengthen knowledge, skills, and leadership to enable individuals and communities to advocate for themselves
Cultural Sensitivity: Understand the perspective of others. We respect cultural differences when interacting with community members by listening, learning, and adapting to their needs.
