October 2026 Newsletter

Dear Maine CHWs and Allies,

The Advisory Board is pleased to share several exciting updates and opportunities available to Community Health Workers across Maine.

CHW Certification Update

Individuals who submit a completed assistance application may be eligible to receive free certification, helping to remove barriers and support workforce advancement. We encourage all eligible CHWs to take advantage of this opportunity and begin the certification process.

During this month's meeting, members received updates on the newly awarded RHTP funding, which will support continued efforts to strengthen and expand Community Health Worker programs and services throughout the state.

We also highlighted the upcoming Maine Children and Youth Training, an excellent professional development opportunity focused on supporting the health and well-being of children, youth, and families. We encourage CHWs to participate and continue building their expertise in this important area.

Thank you for your continued commitment to advancing the Community Health Worker workforce and improving health outcomes in our communities. Together, we continue to strengthen the impact of CHWs across Maine.

-MECHW Advisory Board

Your Path to Professional Recognition Starts Today!

Certification Application Scholarships are available. Contact bdairyko@mcd.org

For New Applications for Certification, the CHW must:

● Be 18 years or older at the time of certification

● Have a high school diploma, or high school equivalency (HSE)

● Complete 40 hours of an approved training program based on the C3 Project core competencies endorsed by the Maine CHW Initiative

● Complete a minimum of 1000 service hours

○ Can include volunteer work, peer observation, internship, apprenticeship, and/or paid employment

○ Can include work in the health care and social fields if they can demonstrate the core CHW skills

○ Service hours can be completed at multiple organizations

○ Work experience from the last 2 years will qualify

● Must consent to the CHW code of ethics

● Application fee $100

The assessment is offered on the 2nd Thursday of each month

in Hallowell at 12:30 p.m.

CHW CERTIFICATION NEWSext Link

Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification update for Primary Care Plus Practices (PCPlus)

As PCPlus continues to strengthen care coordination, prevention, and community-based support across Maine, we are happy to announce that Maine now has a certification option for CHWs.

What this Means for PCPlus Practices

CHWs play a vital role in improving patient outcomes, reducing barriers to care, and supporting whole-person health. For PCPlus practices that are eligible for Tier 2 and 3, CHW services are required to be provided by CHWs who:

receive training on core competencies defined by The Community Health Worker Core Consensus Project or,
hold a Maine CHW certification or registration.

Next Steps

We encourage PCPlus practices to:

Review current CHW roles and certification status of contracted partners
Begin planning for certification timelines and costs
Support CHWs in enrolling in approved training and certification programs

Looking ahead, CHW certification may eventually become a requirement for all CHWs in PCPlus. However, we will provide advance notice before we implement this change. The CHW certification process, additional guidance, and resources on the certification process are available through the Maine Community Health Worker Initiative.

For questions regarding PCPlus, please contact: PCP-Network-Services.DHHS@maine.gov

Visit Certification Page Here!

Leadership Opportunities & News

This year's Professional Development Program has started. If you are interested in joining, it's not too late. Contact b.dairyko.mcd.org

Access to Health Care in the U.S. for individuals with limited English proficiency

Open Here

CHW Highlights

"Driving Change through Leadership"

Maine Mobile Health Program 40th Anniversary!

Thank you to everyone who joined the Maine Mobile Health Program for our 40th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser. It was a joy to be in community with partners, friends, and family as we marked this important milestone. We look forward to continuing this important work together.

If you would like your CHW program highlighted in our monthly newsletter,

Please contact bdairyko@mcd.org

Meetings

MECHWI Monthly Meeting

MECHWI meets monthly. We share strategic updates; participants can network with other CHWs and learn from community programs and resources. All are welcome!

Next Monthly Meeting:

Oct. 27th, 1:30-2:30 pm

Highlighting RTHP Funding Updates

Join Meeting Here