PRESS RELEASE
AAPCHO Awards $8.5 Million to 22 Organizations Expanding Access to COVID-19 Services for Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities
Funding from the Biden administration through the American Rescue Plan supports critical Community Health Worker workforce as organizations continue to cope with high demand for services amid the pandemic
January 12, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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WASHINGTON—The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) today announced that it has awarded $8.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding to 22 community-based organizations across the country through a Community Health Worker (CHW) Workforce Collaborative. The funding supports local COVID-19 vaccine outreach and education initiatives tailored and targeted to serve under-resourced Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (A/AA and NH/PI) communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
Launched in June 2021, the CHW Workforce Collaborative brings together Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and community-based organizations to build vaccine confidence and increase COVID-19 vaccinations in vulnerable A/AA and NH/PI communities who have been hit hard by the pandemic. To date and in just under six months since it was launched, the Collaborative has collectively hired more than 290 CHWs and administered over 43,100 COVID-19 vaccine doses across 13 states.
“The CHW Workforce Collaborative would not have been possible without the support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Health Resources and Services Administration,” said Jeffrey B. Caballero, executive director. “This collaborative serves as an innovative model in COVID-19 vaccine outreach and primary care access, as the CHW workforce plays a critical role in providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care for marginalized communities.”
“CHWs are expanding the capacity and impact of community health centers and community-based organizations by increasing access to in-language services, primary care, and essential enabling services,” said Jen Lee, deputy director. “Leaders from across the continental United States and Hawai’i are mobilized to mitigate the health inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Words cannot fully express the deep gratitude and appreciation we have for our resilient and compassionate CHW workforce and community leaders involved in this national partnership,” said Joe Lee, director of strategic initiatives and partnerships. “Our CHWs are making a difference by addressing myths and fears to build vaccine confidence, removing structural barriers to access health and social care for under-resourced communities, and saving lives. We look forward to continuing this work in 2022 and expanding the CHW workforce in collaboration with our local partners.”
About AAPCHO
AAPCHO is a national association of community health organizations dedicated to promoting advocacy, collaboration and leadership that improves the health status and access of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States, the U.S. territories, and Freely Associated States. For more information on AAPCHO, please visit www.aapcho.org.
Contact
Kristine Cecile Alarcon, MPH, (510) 671-5054, kalarcon@aapcho.org