Created from $226.5 million in American Rescue Plan Funding, the Community Health Worker Training Program will increase the number of community health workers; mental health and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services; chronic disease care; and other important health services, according to an April 2022 press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Community Health Worker Training Program is a multiyear initiative with a goal to build the pipeline of public health workers by supporting education, training, and apprenticeship programs to help more people enter the health workforce and connect patients to care and support, including follow-up appointments and prevention strategies.

HHS said the program supports health workers who have engaged in COVID-19 vaccine outreach and building vaccine confidence in high-risk communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will use the program to train 13,000 community health workers to improve public health emergency response and address public health needs of underserved communities.

“At a time when too much misinformation is clouding the healthcare landscape, we are investing in training community health workers who are trusted voices in their communities,” HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson said.

Health profession schools, academic health centers, state or local governments, and any other appropriate public or private non-profit entity that trains public health workers can apply for funding under the Community Health Worker Training Program until June 14, 2022.

“This funding will support health workers—who know their communities and have their trust—as they keep their neighbors healthy, including throughout the COVID-19 response, by helping patients enroll in vital services, and by providing community education, outreach, and support,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said.