Community-based Workforce

The Power of Culturally Responsive Care

Empowering a Community-Based Workforce for Health Equity in Southwest Washington

At Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health (SWACH), we believe we believe the best care comes from people who know and understand their communities. That’s why we support a strong local health workforce in Clark, Klickitat and Skamania counties. Our goal is to make health care fair, easy to access, and respectful of everyone’s needs.

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What Is the Community-Based Workforce?

The community-based workforce includes people like Community Health Workers (CHWs), peer support specialists, and others who help connect people to care and provide equitable health care solutions. These workers come from many backgrounds and help in many ways, such as:

  • Culturally responsive care – Matching people with someone who understands their background and speaks their language.

  • Supporting the whole person – Helping with things like food, housing, and transportation that affect health.

  • Health equity and inclusion – Advocating for equitable health care services and ensuring that all community members have access to good care, no matter who they are.

Group of people attending a community event in a large hall with yellow and gray walls, wooden ceiling beams, and a large orange 'YWCA' logo on the gray wall in the background. Some people are sitting, eating, and talking at blue-covered tables, while others are standing and engaging in conversations.

Advancing Community Health in Southwest Washington

By strengthening the community-based health care workforce, SWACH is working toward better health outcomes and quality improvement in health care across the region. Through collaboration with community health organizations, we drive:

  • Community health improvement initiatives

  • Enhanced care coordination between providers and community organizations

  • Better health services for rural and urban populations

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Get Involved & Learn More

Join us in expanding health equity, improving access to care, and strengthening community health partnerships in Southwest Washington. Learn more about our Community-Based Workforce on our news page and explore how HealthConnect Hub bridges the gap between health care services and community needs.

Strengthening Health Care Access & Equity in Washington

SWACH is dedicated to improving health equity and expanding community health care services through key initiatives:

  • HealthConnect Hub – Connecting individuals to health care resources and social services.

  • Community-based organizations – Partnering with Washington health care agencies to support local health care programs.

  • Community support networks – Providing training and funding opportunities to health nonprofits and partners in health.

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 What are the Benefits of a Community-Based Workforce?

Community-based workforces go a long way in empowering local communities. Among the countless benefits are some key features.

Creating Health
Equity

By developing and supporting a community-based workforce, SWACH and our partners can better create health equity in our region. These professionals can provide holistic, wrap-around support that community members may need. A strong community-based workforce can bring an equity lens to this work, understanding certain populations face unique barriers to accessing care services. Through individuals with relevant, lived experiences, we can combat many of the inequities that exist in these systems.

Connecting Community Members to Trusted Messengers

The Community-Based Workforce is made up of individuals who call Southwest Washington home. For many of our community members, they know they can trust these professionals when seeking support. That makes our CBWs trusted messengers - individuals who can share important information regarding health and social services to individuals in a way that feels natural and comfortable.

Breaking Down Siloes Between Services

Oftentimes, people seeking supportive services need help in more than one aspect of their lives. The siloes between these important services can lead to some unmet needs. CBWs are knowledgeable and well-trained in how to break down those siloes to ensure people get the full scope of care they need. Leveraging a trusted, personal relationship with their clients, they can regularly identify additional barriers individuals may face.

From Our Newsroom