Kim Wilson, Lifelong Community Health Worker, Addresses the Washington Health Care Authority to Advocate for Community Health Workers Across The State

Kim Wilson, Community-Based Workforce Program Manager at Better Health Together and a dedicated lifelong Community Health Worker, addressed the Washington State Health Care Authority, passionately advocating for the Medicaid reimbursement of community health workers (CHWs) in non-clinical settings.


Anyone who knows Kim—or has been touched by her work—can attest to the undeniable impact she has. Kim is a beacon of light. From the moment you meet her, her warmth and positivity are contagious, and she has an incredible ability to make everyone around her feel seen, heard, and valued—regardless of their background or circumstances. Beyond her uplifting spirit, Kim is a fierce advocate. She isn’t afraid to speak out, especially for those whose voices often go unheard.

For Kim, being a community health worker is not just a profession—it’s a calling. It’s a life’s work that extends well beyond the confines of a 9-to-5 schedule. As she shared in her testimony: “Community health workers are the heart, the head, and the hands of their communities. We are the true unsung heroes, the ones who bridge the gap and help people access the care they need. The work we do requires immense trust, patience, and a deep commitment to building lasting connections.”

Kim’s words are a powerful reflection of not just her own dedication but the collective strength and resilience of all CHWs. They are often the unseen backbone of our healthcare system, offering support that goes far beyond what can be measured.

Without the tireless efforts of individuals like Kim Wilson, we wouldn’t be able to make the strides we need to truly improve community health. Kim embodies the heart and soul of this work—showing up every day for those who need it most and standing firm in her belief that everyone deserves equitable access to care and support. Her advocacy isn’t just about policy; it’s about people and making sure that no one is left behind.

Kim’s advocacy for CHWs does not stop here. As a recognized leader in the field, she has been selected to participate in the NACHW/PIH-US 3rd Annual Capitol Hill Visit in Washington, D.C., from March 11-13, 2025. There, she will continue her efforts by meeting with lawmakers to push for long-term Medicaid reimbursement for CHWs in non-clinical settings. This event is a crucial opportunity to elevate the voices of CHWs on a national stage and secure the sustainable resources they need to continue their work in underserved communities.

Better Health Together is proud to have Kim Wilson on our team and to highlight the profound impact she has made across Washington State, transforming both communities and individual lives.


Read Kim’s statement to the Washington State Health Care Authority below.

February 4, 2025

To: Health Care Authority

Subject: Rules in Chapter 182-562 WAC

Hello esteemed members,

Thank you for continuing to look for funding options for the community-based workforce. As a result of the continued support of community health workers, both in clinics and in community, supervised by medical providers, we have seen significant improvements in our region of eastern Washington.

I have been a CHW for as long as I can remember, and I took the Department of Health CHW training in 2016. I have been a member, lead, and admin support for Eastern WA CHW Network (2016 – present); State CHW Leadership committee member (2020-2023); NACHW Policy Advisory Committee member (2024-Present). I have also served as a regional CHW training partner (with DOH) 2017 – 2021), DOH CHW Statewide Trainer (2021-2023). I have been a strong advocate, supporter, and I have stood alongside CHWs in our state and beyond. 

CHWs are the heart, the head, and the hands of their communities. They are the true unsung heroes of connecting folks to the care they need. The support that they provide goes beyond the typical 9-5pm workday, and requires a large amount of trust and patience to make lasting community connections. I would like to share an example of two stories today, but there are so many more I could tell. 

In many rural communities, CHWs not only meet clients where they are, but really build bridges to care for the folks most in need.  There was a CHW working with a client who had complex care needs, but was very distrustful. The CHW was from the community, and shared lived experience, but realized that in order to support this client, they would need to reach out to other community partners and create an integrated care team. She brought in a social worker, primary care, employment, housing, and family supports. They met as a care team to support this community member for 6 months. Now the client is thriving. This is the power of a CHW that works in community, not just in a clinical setting. 

We also work with a CHW who works in a community setting that shares lived experience and culture with refugees and immigrants from Afghanistan. When I met her, she told me that many come in for 1 need, but that is not the entire story. Once trust has been established, what might seem like an issue with rental assistance leads to supporting them through addressing health-related social needs. For example, there was a community member who sent their son to speak with the CHW. The CHW met them at their home, because the elderly community member was blind and didn’t speak English. When they arrived, it was obvious that they needed support with more than just rental assistance. They needed a caregiver, food support, financial help, and cleaning (just to name a few). This CHW is still working with this client today. They have been able to support them with caregiving, food, and transport to doctor’s appointments. 

At BHT, I support the CHW training and apprenticeship programs. I have been responsible for training hundreds of CHWs from 2017-2022. At BHT from 2023- 2025, we have trained 92 new and 24 existing CHWs in eastern WA. The training program fills up with a waiting list every time we release it, and has run almost entirely on word of mouth. We face a number of barriers in providing training and professional development to community health workers in our region, but the stories of impact remain a driving force for us to continue this work. We appreciate the work you are doing to get clinic based CHW funded by Medicaid and ask that you also explore Medicaid funding for the community-based workforce.

Thank you for your consideration,

Kim Wilson, Program manager

Community Health Worker Training Program & Apprenticeship, Eastern Washington


Kim Wilson shares what it means to be a community health worker (CHW) as part of a campaign to bring awareness to the work of CHWs and the important role they play in the healthcare delivery system.

Meet Marty – A Community Health Worker

Community Health Worker Awareness Week is held every year from August 26th to 30th. We’re excited to keep highlighting eastern Washington community health workers all year long! Discover more about these incredible individuals who are making a real difference through their dedication, compassion, and relentless commitment to enhancing community health.


My name is Marty and I am a Community Health Worker.

How did you first learn about community health workers?

When I was growing up, I thought that I wanted to be a doctor. Then, I talked to one of my college advisors and explained to them my vision for what health would look like on my reservation compared to the very healthy university town that I was living in. They told me that in order to fix health on the reservation, I would have to get into politics or community health, and I chose community health.

What was your experience like in the community health worker training program?

I enjoyed the community health worker training program because it was self-paced and online, and you could really take your time with the material.

What does a typical day look like for you as a community health worker?

The cool thing about being a community health worker is that no day looks the same, and no client is the same. So you never know what you’re going to be doing that day or how your day will look. But typically, you’re working with your clients, and whatever that brings is really dependent on the day and the client.

What is the response from community members about your work?

People will stop us mid-sentence, we’re just doing our job, and then they tell us, “I just want you to know the work that you’re doing is amazing, and we’re so grateful, and we appreciate everything that you’re doing for us in the community.” And it’s a nice reminder because, for us, we’re just doing our job, and we’re on our normal standard operating procedure, if you will. I feel like we get so into doing the work and getting the work done that we forget that we’re impacting people’s lives in a positive way. 

Community Health Worker Training Program Makes Significant Strides in 2024

Better Health Together (BHT) was selected to receive a Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Community Health Worker Training Grant in 2022. This grant aims to support the expansion of the Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce in Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Stevens Counties. HRSA awarded $225,543,198 to 83 organizations through the Community Health Worker Training Program (HRSA-22-124).

Our community-based workforce is the key to regional change and better care for all. We have seen time and time again how working with a care coordinator who is representative of your community and understands your unique needs gives you a better chance at being healthy. This year, we focused our efforts on how we can train, support, and grow our Community Health Workforce to support our region.

Community Health Worker (CHW) Network and Training Program Takes Flight

Our HRSA CHW Training & Apprenticeship Program has made significant strides in empowering CHWs across our region in the past year. We successfully trained 36 new CHWs, providing them with essential skills in Adult Mental Health First Aid, Disaster Preparedness, and Medication Management. Additionally, we offered upskill opportunities to 40 existing CHWs, further enhancing their capabilities and readiness to serve our community.

Our efforts extended beyond training. Through robust community outreach and engagement with employers and partners, we raised awareness about the invaluable contributions of CHWs. Participating in over 20 regional events and delivering presentations at 25 meetings, both large and small, we highlighted the pivotal role of CHWs in enhancing community health outcomes. The guidance and support from our dedicated Steering Committee members have been instrumental in shaping our program’s development, ensuring quality improvement, and selecting training participants.

Eastern Washington CHW Network Thrives

The Eastern WA CHW Network has also flourished, welcoming 20 new members to its ranks and achieving a milestone of 100 total members. Monthly meetings serve as vital platforms for CHWs to connect, share resources, and foster professional development. These gatherings have facilitated engagement with over 12 partners, who introduced new resources to support community members effectively.

Moreover, our network’s influence extends to statewide leadership. Four of our members now serve on the State CHW Leadership Committee, advocating for CHW interests in training, education, employment, and policy. Their involvement ensures that the voices of Eastern Washington CHWs are heard at the highest levels of decision-making.

Through these initiatives, our CHW Network and Training Program continues to strengthen the foundation of community health across Eastern Washington, empowering CHWs and fostering collaboration for a healthier future.


HRSA publishes summary of the characteristics and accomplishments of CHW Training Program trainees during the Academic Year (AY) 2022-2023

BHT is honored to be a part of the national movement to recognize the important work CHWs do every day and the difference they make in their communities. HRSA has published a summary of the accomplishments of the CHW Training Program nationally during the Academic Year 2022 – 2023.

Key Findings From the Report

  • Within the first year of the Community Health Worker and Health Support Worker Training Program, 2,848 trainees participated in programs for new and existing community health workers (CHWs). 1,098 individuals completed their training programs, 78% of whom entered the workforce as newly trained CHWs.

  • Among program completers who provided employment data, 63% were working in a medically underserved community and 62% were working in community-based settings.

  • 87% of program completers reported serving in at least one CHW-related employment role. The most commonly reported CHW employment roles included addressing social determinants of health, conducting outreach, and connecting vulnerable populations to healthcare providers.  


Are you interested in learning more about the community health worker training program and how you can get involved?


This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $3,000,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

Conoce a Ve – Un Trabajador de Salud Comunitaria / Meet Ve – A Community Health Worker

Me llamo Ve y soy Trabajador de la Salud Comunitaria.

La Semana de Concientización sobre los Trabajadores de la Salud Comunitaria se llevó a cabo del 26 al 30 de agosto. ¡Estamos emocionados de seguir destacando a los trabajadores de la salud comunitaria del este de Washington! Descubre más sobre estos increíbles individuos que están haciendo una verdadera diferencia a través de su dedicación, compasión y compromiso incansable con la mejora de la salud comunitaria.


My name is Ve and I am a Community Health Worker.

Community Health Worker Awareness Week was held from August 26th to 30th. We’re excited to keep highlighting community health workers from eastern Washington! Discover more about these incredible individuals who are making a real difference through their dedication, compassion, and relentless commitment to enhancing community health.


Learn more about community health worker programming at Better Health Together and how you can get involved!

Exciting Updates and New Opportunities for the HRSA Community Health Worker Training Program

In the first week of September, we had the privilege to host a delegation of representatives from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) from Washington DC. We were given the opportunity to share our Community Health Worker (CHW) initiatives, including our training and apprenticeship programs and our Eastern Wa CHW Network.

In preparation for this meeting and in celebration of the National Community Health Workers Awareness Week, we released interviews highlighting local CHWs as our ‘Everyday Superheroes.’ We shared a digital campaign across various platforms to highlight the small victories and the unfailing courage of our region’s CHWs.   Read more here.

We look forward to the future of our Community Health Worker programming as we work to support and build up community-based care coordination in the region.

Interested in getting involved? There are opportunities for you!

Upcoming Training Cohort

The training for new CHWs consists of a 10-week CHW Core Competency Course provided by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and 3 additional courses supplemented by BHT. Participants will acquire core competencies for CHWs regarding public health and health services that follow state, local, and federal guidelines. The courses are provided quarterly and can be done online and self-paced.

We can’t believe we are getting ready to begin our 7th CHW Training Cohort for those new to the community health field in September! The Winter Training Cohort application will open in early December. For those who are interested in learning more or being on the notification list, please click here.

Upskill Training Opportunities

Our 2nd Upskill Training Cohort ended in August with 5 graduates. These graduates are existing CHWs who received more training in CHW professional skills, public health, and health equity. We are going to be launching the next Upskill application in early October. For those who are interested in learning more or being on the notification list, please click here.

For more information about the community health worker program, please contact Kim Wilson at kim.wilson@betterhealthtogether.org.

The Better Health Together Community Health Worker Training program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $3 million with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.