300 CHWs Trained Since 2016 240 CHW Trainees To Be Educated

99% Completion Rate

Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) has launched a Community Health Worker (CHW) Integration Program to address health and social needs in San Bernardino County. Coordinated by the Institute for Community Partnerships (ICP), the program aims to expand access to care for vulnerable populations through workforce development and educational initiatives. To support this effort, LLUH invests in nonprofit, community-based organizations by providing seed funding for CHW positions or offering technical assistance with grant activities, helping partners increase their capacity to secure funding for CHW roles. LLUH integrates CHWs into the health system and local schools to directly support at-risk groups, including infants and mothers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, diabetic patients, and students facing health and behavioral challenges. Through community outreach, home visits, and peer support, CHWs provide important services that go beyond traditional clinical care. 

Why we did it:

LLUH initiated this project to improve community health outcomes by highlighting the unique support of CHWs. Recognizing the value of time-intensive, personalized care, LLUH invested in training and employing CHWs who understand the community’s specific challenges. This initiative supports vulnerable populations and fosters economic development by creating stable, benefit-inclusive employment for CHWs. By integrating these workers into sectors like healthcare and education, LLUH seeks to build a healthier, more resilient community while ensuring that CHWs have sustainable, equitable job opportunities.


Topics: Chronic Disease Management|Community Care|Food Security/Nutrition|Maternal Health Care|Workforce Development

Community Voice

"That's why I'm here. I wanted to be with [the patient] in the same boat. [Being] in the same boat with them is the best way for you to see the missing parts of the puzzle. So this kind of work that we're doing, we're going to be able to touch more in-depth on the patient, not just as a patient, but as a human." said Alejandra Morales Martinez
Alejandra Martinez
Community Health Worker at LLUH