KANNAPOLIS – Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA) will expand community based efforts to address the impact of COVID-19 among priority populations through funding from the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion’s Community Health Workers for COVID Response and Resilient Communities (CCR) initiative.
Cabarrus Health Alliance received a three-year grant from the CDC to allow six community health workers take part in the Community Health Workers for COVID Response and Resilient Communities.
The three-year grant will allow CHA to integrate six community health workers (CHW) into organizations and care teams throughout the community by partnering with the following Cabarrus County organizations:
Cabarrus County Department of Health and Human Services
The Community Free Clinic
Cooperative Christian Ministry
Cabarrus Health Alliance’s Communicable Disease and Women’s Health Clinic
The American Public Health Association (APHA) defines a community health worker as a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of the community and/or has a strong understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship, between the CHW and the community, allows them to act as a liaison or link between those they serve and health or social service agencies to improve the quality and cultural competence of care.
“These partnerships and the physical placement of CHWs in our community will help to improve health outcomes among our African American and Hispanic populations impacted by COVID-19,” said Dr. Bonnie Coyle, CHA Public Health Director. “Data shows us that there has been an increased prevalence of COVID-19 among historically marginalized populations, who we know have faced long-standing health disparities. We have to do more to meet people where they are, and this program allows us to do just that.”
