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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Concurrent Resolution 28
Sponsored by Representative RUIZ
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 as introduced.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
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.
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 wellbeing; 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;
(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;
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 HCR28
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(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, support the goals and ideals of
National Community Health Worker Awareness 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.
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