Illinois Public Health Association plans statewide CHW recruitment push

By AI, Created 10:51 PM UTC, June 03, 2026, /AGP/ – The Illinois Public Health Association says a new statewide campaign will launch in the coming weeks to recruit Community Health Workers across Illinois. The effort is designed to boost awareness of the role, connect applicants with training, and promote certification as demand grows for community-based health support.

Why it matters: - Community Health Workers help people navigate health and human services systems with culturally responsive education, advocacy, and care coordination. - IPHA says the campaign is meant to strengthen the CHW pipeline, support employers, and expand access to a community-rooted career path. - The effort also aims to promote official statewide certification, which can help standardize and elevate the profession.

What happened: - The Illinois Public Health Association announced a comprehensive Community Health Worker Recruitment Campaign will launch in the coming weeks. - The statewide effort is being developed with community anchors, ambassadors, and health organizations across Illinois. - IPHA said the initiative is the first of its kind in the state.

The details: - The campaign will use digital outreach, community-based engagement, storytelling, and employer partnerships. - IPHA said the creative platform will highlight CHWs’ role in improving health outcomes, strengthening care navigation, and addressing social determinants of health. - The initiative will aim to increase public awareness of the CHW role and its impact. - The campaign will promote recruitment for certified CHW training programs. - The initiative will support employers that want to integrate CHWs into their organizations. - The campaign will present CHWs as a sustainable, community-rooted career pathway. - The effort will also help current CHWs move toward certified CHW status. - Illinois residents will see educational toolkits for schools, employers, and community organizations. - New resources will be added to the Help Guide Thrive website. - The rollout will include statewide digital and social media advertising. - Regional partners will lead community outreach efforts. - Video stories will showcase CHWs in their communities. - Funding is being provided in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Public Health. - IPHA was established in 1940 and is Illinois’ oldest and largest statewide voluntary organization dedicated exclusively to public health. - IPHA is an affiliate of the American Public Health Association. - The association works to strengthen health across Illinois communities by mobilizing partners and advancing health equity.

Between the lines: - The campaign signals a broader push to make CHW jobs more visible to students, job seekers, and people returning to the workforce. - The focus on certification and training suggests Illinois is trying to formalize and expand a workforce that often operates close to the community level. - Employer outreach points to a practical goal: getting more organizations to build CHWs into their care and service models.

What’s next: - Illinois residents should begin seeing campaign materials in the coming weeks as the rollout starts. - The effort will move in phases, with tools, website resources, advertising, outreach, and video content arriving over time. - IPHA says the campaign will help more people learn how to become a certified CHW in Illinois.