Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

HHS.gov
  • About HHS
  • Programs & Services
  • Grants & Contracts
  • Laws & Regulations

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About
  3. News
  4. With New American Rescue Plan Funding, HHS Expands and Strengthens the Community and Public Health Workforce
  • News
  • Blog
  • HHS Live
  • Podcasts
  • Media Guidelines for HHS Employees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2022
Contact: HHS Press Office
202-690-6343
media@hhs.gov

With New American Rescue Plan Funding, HHS Expands and Strengthens the Community and Public Health Workforce

HHS invests $225.5 million in community health workers, $40.7 million in public health scholarships

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded more than $266 million in American Rescue Plan funding to grow the community and public health workforce.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to building a robust health workforce to make communities healthy,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. "Patients depend on community and public health workers for care and medical information. These investments will equip community and public health workers with the skill sets needed to provide effective community outreach, increase access to care, and assist individuals with critical prevention and treatment services.”

HRSA is awarding $225.5 million to 83 grantees as part of the Community Health Worker Training Program, which is a new multiyear program that will support training and apprenticeship to support an estimated 13,000 community health workers. Community health workers connect people to care, build trust within communities and facilitate communication between patients and health care providers. They can also be known as promotores de salud, community health advisors, outreach workers, patient navigators and peer counselors.

“As trusted health care messengers, community health workers are essential to connecting individuals from historically underserved communities to health care and helping people stay connected to care and services,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “Today’s awards are an important step in expanding the health workforce at a time when people need support accessing care and treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, chronic disease and COVID-19.”

HRSA is also awarding $40.7 million to 29 grantees through the Public Health Scholarship Program, which will incentivize individuals to pursue training and careers in public health, including as epidemiologists and other positions critical to community public health needs. This program will build public health workforce capacity in cities and states across the country.

 Award recipients

  • Community Health Worker Training Program
  • Public Health Scholarship Program

Learn more about HRSA’s efforts to support the health workforce.

###
Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other news materials are available at https://www.hhs.gov/news.
Like HHS on Facebook, follow HHS on Twitter @HHSgov, and sign up for HHS Email Updates.
Last revised: October 3, 2022

Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases

Sign Up

Subscribe to RSS

Receive latest updates

Subscribe to our RSS

Related News Releases

  • HHS and Baby2Baby Announce Partnership to Support New Mothers with a Newborn Supply Kit During Visit by Vice President Kamala Harris

  • New Surgeon General Advisory Raises Alarm about the Devastating Impact of the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation in the United States

  • HHS Awards Phase 1 Winners of Competition to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals for Black Women

Related Blog Posts

  • HHS Blog thumbnail

    HHS Shines Spotlight on Diagnostic Innovation During Lyme Disease Awareness Month

  • An image of an adolescent girl smiling. The graphic says “April 3-7. Adolescent Immunization Action Week. #AIAW23.”

    It’s Time to Act! On-Time Immunization is Critical for All Adolescents

  • HHS Blog thumbnail

    ICYMI: 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Holds First Meeting

Media Inquiries

For general media inquiries, please contact media@hhs.gov.

Content created by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Content last reviewed October 3, 2022
Back to top
  • Contact HHS
  • Careers
  • HHS FAQs
  • Nondiscrimination Notice
  • HHS Archive
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Viewers & Players
  • Budget/Performance
  • Inspector General
  • Web Site Disclaimers
  • EEO/No Fear Act
  • FOIA
  • The White House
  • USA.gov

Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases.

Sign Up
HHS Logo

HHS Headquarters

200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​