A senate RESOLUTION

 

To RECOGNIZE August 25-29, 2025, as South Carolina Community Health Worker Awareness week in South Carolina in acknowledgement of the vital contributions COMMUNITY hEALTH wORKERS make to public health.

 

Whereas, Community Health Workers (CHWs) are frontline public health professionals with shared lived experience embedded in the communities they serve; and

 

Whereas, CHWs connect individuals in under-resourced areas to health care and essential services, helping them gain the knowledge and tools to live healthier lives; and

 

Whereas, a recent study shows that for every dollar invested in CHWs, South Carolina sees an over four-dollar return on investment; and

 

Whereas, CHWs improve service access, quality, and cultural humility through outreach, personalized education, elevation of community voices, and social support, strengthening both individual and community well-being; and

 

Whereas, CHWs support individuals and communities by amplifying their needs and helping them navigate systems; and

 

Whereas, CHWs are a professionally trained and certified, community-based workforce that is employed across sectors, including in rural and urban areas, health centers, social service agencies, and health systems, to reduce barriers to care; and

 

Whereas, decades of research confirm CHWs' effectiveness in areas such as maternal and child health, chronic disease, immunization, HIV, and oral health, while reducing emergency room use and health care costs; and

 

Whereas, CHWs serve in diverse roles such as care coordination, health education, coaching, outreach, and system navigation, and contribute to assessments, evaluation, and research; and

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate recognize that CHWs support workforce development, training, and mentoring across the State, and the members appreciate the work CHWs do to assist the people and the State of South Carolina.  Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the Senate:

 

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize August 25-29, 2025, as South Carolina Community Health Worker Awareness Week in South Carolina in acknowledgement of the vital contributions Community Health Workers make to public health.

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