New Hampshire Delegation Announces Nearly $3 Million to Train and Support Community Health Workers in New Hampshire
WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Representative Chris Pappas, and Representative Annie Kuster announced that Southern NH Area Health Education Center (Southern NH AHEC), a program of Lamprey Health Care, has been awarded a nearly $3 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to support and train community health workers in rural and underserved areas in New Hampshire. The Southern NH AHEC program works with community partners to train new Community Health Workers and upskill people already in the workforce, providing access to supportive job readiness services as well as access to apprenticeships.
“Community health centers are an incredibly important resource for Granite Staters – providing high-quality care, including for mental health and substance use disorder,” said Senator Maggie Hassan. “This new funding will bolster efforts of Southern NH AHEC and Lamprey Health Care, helping support and grow the dedicated community health workforce in our state. I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure that community health centers across New Hampshire have the support that they need to continue their vital work.”
“Our community health centers play a vital role in responding to COVID-19 and delivering essential, affordable health care to thousands of Granite Staters. Securing funding for frontline providers to hire and train more professionals is crucial to ensuring rural and underserved communities have access to quality care. I’m very pleased that Lamprey Health Care has received this funding to expand their Community Health Worker program and will continue to make sure New Hampshire’s health providers have the resources they need to provide the best care possible,” said Senator Shaheen.
“Granite Staters rely on our community health centers for countless services, and it’s crucial that we ensure they have the qualified staff they need to serve our communities,” said Rep. Pappas. “These funds will help recruit, train, and retain community health workers to strengthen our public health workforce. Community health centers provide essential health services regardless of someone's ability to pay and are fundamental in helping constituents find affordable high-quality care, and I will continue to advocate for them in Congress.”
“Community health centers provide crucial health care to Granite Staters, especially in our rural and underserved communities,” said Rep. Kuster. “This substantial federal funding to train new community health workers and provide additional training for existing employees will help address the shortage of health care workers in New Hampshire. I’m proud to help announce this investment in our state and I will continue working to help bolster our health care work force in our rural communities and throughout the Granite State.”
“Community Health Workers (CHWs) act as the bridge between the health systems and the communities they serve,” explains Paula Smith, Director of SNHAHEC. “They use their skills to help people navigate their way to get the help they need, focusing on addressing social determinants of health such as housing, transportation, and food insecurity to keep people healthy.”
Greg White, CEO of Lamprey Health Care states, “CHW ADVANCE! will infuse New Hampshire and Vermont workforce with a cadre of well-trained CHWs who represent underserved populations most in need of their services, allowing health care organizations to promote health in the communities we serve.”
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