Pandemic Era Expansion of State Laws Governing the Professionalization of Community Health Workers
Clicks: 2
ID: 325462
2026
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This
article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score —
reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
Reader Engagement
Emerging Content
0.3
/100
2 views
1 readers
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal
EmergingRanked #43 of 91 articles by views in Health Affairs Scholar
Most read
Least read
Bar heights use a square-root scale.
Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet mintedCreate a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.
5
SUSD
one-off · no wallet required
Abstract
Abstract Introduction Community Health Workers (CHWs) are trusted public health workers who strengthen healthcare access, quality, and cultural responsiveness by addressing social determinants of health. While CHW services show value, professionalization policies, including certification and training requirements, remain debated. Methods To understand these policies, we conducted an empirical legal mapping study of CHW professionalism laws in 54 U.S. jurisdictions (50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and Guam) in effect in 2019 and 2024 following consensus legal mapping guidelines for legal research, coding, and quality control. Results We screened 2,248 relevant laws, with 31 jurisdictions modifying CHW professionalization laws. Between 2019 and 2024, the number of jurisdictions with consistent terminology (16 to 21), defined CHW roles (15 to 21), laws concerning certification (14 to 22), and laws requiring training for practice or certification (21 to 23) increased. Jurisdictions with formal education requirements declined (12 to 8), while jurisdictions requiring training programs increased (12 to 20). Conclusion CHW professionalization requires careful navigation. While increased professionalism might enhance workforce stability, it risks creating barriers to entry and undermining CHWs’ community-rooted identity. Future research is needed to identify the balance between CHW professionalism and the preservation of CHW status as trusted members of the communities they serve.
| Reference Key |
openalex_W7203769784
Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using
SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
|
|---|---|
| Authors | Regen Weber-Fares, Thomas Cheung, David Washburn, Timothy Callaghan, Megan Lafleur, Denise Martinez, Deepak Muthyala, Keegan Warren, William Sage, Cason Schmit |
| Journal | Health Affairs Scholar |
| Year | 2026 |
| DOI |
10.1093/haschl/qxag210
|
| URL | |
| Keywords | Keywords not found |
Citations
No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.