1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session A-Engrossed House Concurrent Resolution 28 Ordered by the House March 21 Including House Amendments dated March 21 Sponsored by Representative RUIZ; Representative FRAGALA SUMMARY The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the measure. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards. Digest: Names a week in August of this year to honor community healthcare workers. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.4). [Digest: Shows support for a week each year that celebrates and honors community health care workers. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.8).] [Supports the goals and ideals of National Community Health Worker Awareness Week.] Designates the week of August 17 to 23, 2025, as Community Healthcare Workers Week. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Whereas community health workers are frontline public health workers that are trusted mem- bers of the community in which they serve; and Whereas community health workers have a uniquely intimate understanding of the communities they serve, and that understanding enables them to build trusted relationships, serve as liaisons between the community and much needed health and social services, improve the quality and cul- tural competence of service delivery, increase treatment capacity in underserved areas and improve community health knowledge and individual self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, informal counseling, coaching, social support and advocacy; and Whereas community health workers are recognized with a professional certification in a growing number of states in the United States; and Whereas community health workers are a historic workforce that goes back hundreds of years in the United States and that reflects the diversity that makes this country great; and Whereas community health workers have been known by many different titles, including com- munity health representatives, promotoras de salud, aunties, peers and outreach workers; and Whereas community health workers are a cross-sector workforce that connects community members to health care and other social services, reducing barriers to health and well-being; and Whereas community health workers are a proven workforce with decades of research docu- menting effectiveness in maternal and child health, chronic disease interventions, immunization, oral health, HIV, primary care and many other disciplines and a documented return on investment for many programs; and Whereas sustainable funding of community health workers supports fair market wages and en- hanced recruitment and retention of the workforce; and Whereas community health workers fulfill a wide range of roles, including: (1) Facilitating cultural mediation among individuals, communities and health and social service systems; NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted. New sections are in boldfaced type. LC 3700 A-Eng. HCR 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 (2) Providing culturally appropriate health education; (3) Coordinating care, case management and health system navigation; (4) Advocating for individuals and communities; (5) Building community capacity; (6) Providing direct service; (7) Implementing individual and community assessments; and (8) Participating in evaluation and research; and Whereas community health worker networks are statewide, regional or local associations or coalitions with leadership and membership composed of at least 50 percent community health workers, and whose activities include training, workforce development, mentoring and other initi- atives to support community health worker programs; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon: That we, the members of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly, designate the week of August 17 to 23, 2025, as Community Healthcare Workers Week; and be it further Resolved, That we recognize the significant contributions of community health workers to im- prove health outcomes in underserved communities; and be it further Resolved, That we encourage collaboration at the local, state and federal levels to raise awareness of the critical role of community health workers in Oregon and throughout the United States. [2]