26,500 in community benefit funding helps launch certification to improve access to preventive care statewide
ChristianaCare is contributing $26,500 in community benefit funding to help launch Delaware’s first certification program for community health workers.
That support, matched by Delaware Health Force, will cover application fees for the first 500 workers and help build the infrastructure needed to bring certification statewide.
It’s part of a broader effort in Delaware to recognize and professionalize the role of community health workers, who are increasingly seen as essential to addressing the social drivers of health.
“Community health workers are key to building a health system that works for everyone, wherever they are,” said Jacqueline Ortiz, ChristianaCare’s chief community health impact officer. “ChristianaCare is committed to providing high-quality, affordable care that addresses root causes, emphasizes prevention and empowers our neighbors to manage their health. We’re proud to help lay the groundwork for a credentialing process that supports these professionals and the communities they serve.”
ChristianaCare has 65 community health workers embedded across primary care, women’s health, emergency medicine, behavioral health and population health programs. By building trust and bridging care gaps, they help patients navigate challenges like transportation, food access and chronic disease — often preventing unnecessary hospital visits.
While certification is optional for community health workers, it establishes consistent standards, better coordination and potential Medicaid reimbursement in the future. More than 20 states already reimburse community health worker services through Medicaid — a model Delaware is working toward. In May, Gov. Matt Meyer signed a resolution directing state health officials to develop a plan by early 2026 to allow Medicaid reimbursement for community health worker services.
“Certification is a low-cost, high-impact investment in Delaware’s public health infrastructure,” said Tim Gibbs, MPH, director of Delaware Health Force, a workforce development initiative of the Delaware Academy of Medicine and Public Health. “It offers community health workers professional recognition, prepares them for future reimbursement opportunities and supports smaller organizations that rely on this workforce but lack stable funding. We’re proud to partner with ChristianaCare on an effort that strengthens grassroots care statewide.”
“This certification helps standardize training while reflecting the many ways community health workers already serve across Delaware,” said Kate Smith, M.D., MPH, executive director of the Delaware Academy of Medicine and Public Health. “It connects public health priorities with the people who are out in communities every day, having conversations, building trust and helping others take the next step in their care.”
The certification program is led by the Community Health Workers Association of Delaware (CHWAD) and will be managed by the Delaware Certification Board. CHWAD worked closely with health workers statewide to design a flexible program that supports both formally trained and experienced workers without prior credentials.
“We are grateful to ChristianaCare and Delaware Health Force for helping to kick this off,” said Dawn Ferguson, chair of CHWAD. “Certification gives community health workers the clarity and confidence they need to thrive in a complex system. It helps define their role and strengthens trust across the health and social service landscape.”
To learn more about CHWAD’s certification program or apply, visit chwadelaware.org.
