Illinois Community Health Workers Association

Illinois Community Health Workers Association is a statewide membership organization serving as the unified voice for Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Illinois. Registered with the federal government since February 2020, it is classified as a tax-exempt corporate entity and identified as a minority-owned, Black American-owned, non-profit organization. The association primarily focuses on providing services related to community health worker training, job development, and support services through federal grant sub-awards. Its main role in these grants involves coordinating job development work, assisting with participant recruitment, offering support services, and distributing supportive funds to program participants.

Through federal grant sub-awards from the University of Illinois, acting as the prime grantee, the Illinois Community Health Workers Association has been involved in various activities supporting CHW training programs. These activities include hiring a full-time job developer to provide job readiness assistance to CHW trainees, which involves conducting workshops, maintaining a job board, and identifying potential apprenticeship programs and CHW employers. The association also employs a CHW/case manager to coordinate and support CHWs within the training program, as well as a part-time support service coordinator to assist students with services such as childcare and transportation. Additionally, the organization manages the distribution of financial support to program participants, offering up to $2,900 per participant for those attending the South Suburban program, covering expenses such as stipends, travel, and childcare. These services are aimed at enhancing the employability and success of CHWs in Illinois, contributing to the overall improvement of community health services in the state.