Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet welcomed $225 million to train 13,000 community health workers across the country. Colorado’s Trailhead Institute will receive $3 million to grow the state’s public health workforce as part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Community Health Worker Training Program, which is a new multi-year program that will support training and apprenticeship for new community health workers.
“At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado’s public health infrastructure was underfunded by as much as 40%. Since then, I’ve fought for investments like this one through the American Rescue Plan to break down barriers to health care access and invest in our nation’s health infrastructure. With this funding, Colorado can invest in community-focused care that meets tomorrow’s public health challenges,” said Bennet.
This work builds on the $3 billion Bennet and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) secured in the American Rescue Plan based on their legislation – the Health Force, Resilience Force, and Jobs to Fight COVID-19 Act (Health Force). HHS has used ARP funding to provide much-needed support to health workers treating COVID-19 and other patients at the ground level as well as helping with vaccine administration and connecting underserved communities with social and wraparound services.
A list of award recipients is available HERE.