Community health workers may not be a term everyone is familiar with, but community health workers contribute valuable support to many across the country and our state. In fact, when I hear “community health worker,” the first words that come to mind are outreach and social support. If pressed to go on, I’d add that community health workers are:
- Advocates
- Health educators
- Enrollment assisters
- Referral providers
Simply, community health workers (CHWs) are peers who help their clients navigate the often complex systems of healthcare and human services.
The term CHW can include many other job titles, such as peer support specialist, health navigator and community-based doula. Titles may depend upon the specific populations served or the CHW’s primary responsibilities, but what all community health workers share is that they meet their clients where they are, often at home or in the community at resource sites such as food banks, local health departments, human services/job centers and health clinics.
Community health workers are frequently employed to reach those with limited or no connection to healthcare, such as those living in rural settings, and to offer greater support to those living with a chronic health condition, such as high blood pressure, substance use disorder, diabetes or asthma. CHWs are experts in establishing trust and authentic relationships with their clients in part because they often are fellow members of the community they serve.
Community health workers are frequently helpful liaisons between medical providers and clients. CHWs, particularly those working as members of clinical care teams, facilitate communication with medical staff and ensure supportive follow-up with their clients.
CHWs also provide information on available community resources, such as food and utility assistance programs, in order to address the non-clinical factors that contribute to or impede health. Thus, community health workers help to make care more holistic and remedy the time constraints that are so common among medical providers.
Moreover, community health workers are uniquely positioned to not only be advocates for their individual clients, but community advocates by understanding, taking inventory of, and elevating what they see as persistent community health needs. This informal data collection adds incredible value to efforts aimed at alleviating structural barriers to health and well-being.
MeridianHealth—one of several Medicaid-managed care organizations in Michigan—was recently recognized for its use of community health workers to support maternal and family health. The state’s final 2022 budget included new boilerplate language requiring the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to consult with the federal government on ways to achieve Medicaid-funded community health workers in Michigan. And just last month, Gov. Whitmer proposed the MI Healthy Communities plan, which would support a navigator program of community health workers connecting Michiganders affected by COVID-19 to the care they need.
It’s encouraging to see various leaders recognizing the value of CHW services and acknowledging calls for more integrative care in our state.
For more information and links to resources about community health workers and their impacts, please visit mlpp.org/community-health-workers.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Jacob Kaplan 
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Donald Stuckey 
Patrick Schaefer
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Amber Bellazaire joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a policy analyst in June of 2019. Her work primarily focuses on state policy and budgets affecting Michigan’s Medicaid programs. Previously, Amber worked at the National Conference of State Legislatures tracking legislation and research related to injury and violence prevention, adolescent health, and maternal and child health. She also brings with her two years of Americorps service. As a full time volunteer, Amber had the opportunity to tutor high school students in Chelsea, Massachusetts and address issues of healthcare access and food insecurity through in-person outreach in Seattle, Washington.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
