ChristianaCare Supports Launch of Delaware’s First Community Health Worker Certification Program

ChristianaCare is investing $26,500 to help launch Delaware’s first certification program for community health workers. (Photo courtesy of ChristianaCare.)

ChristianaCare is investing $26,500 in community benefit funding to help establish Delaware’s first statewide certification program for community health workers (CHWs), part of a broader push to expand access to preventive care and improve health equity across the state.

The funding, which is being matched by Delaware Health Force, will cover certification application fees for the first 500 CHWs and assist with developing infrastructure to support the program.

Supporting a Growing Workforce

Community health workers are frontline public health professionals who help connect individuals to care, assist with chronic disease management, and address social determinants of health such as food insecurity, transportation barriers, and housing instability.

ChristianaCare currently employs 65 CHWs across various departments, including primary care, emergency medicine, and behavioral health. These professionals often serve as the bridge between patients and the healthcare system, reducing unnecessary emergency visits and improving long-term health outcomes.

“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. “We’re proud to help lay the groundwork for a credentialing process that supports these professionals and the communities they serve.”

Toward Statewide Standards and Medicaid Reimbursement

Although certification is currently voluntary in Delaware, state leaders are working toward standardizing training and potentially allowing for Medicaid reimbursement for CHW services — a move already adopted in more than 20 states.

Earlier this year, Gov. Matt Meyer signed a resolution directing health officials to develop a plan for Medicaid reimbursement by early 2026.

“Certification is a low-cost, high-impact investment in Delaware’s public health infrastructure,” said Tim Gibbs, director of Delaware Health Force. “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.”

Led by and for Community Health Workers

The certification program will be administered by the Delaware Certification Board and is being developed in partnership with the Community Health Workers Association of Delaware (CHWAD). The program was designed with input from CHWs across the state to ensure it supports both formally trained and experienced workers who may not have traditional credentials.

“This certification helps standardize training while reflecting the many ways community health workers already serve across Delaware,” said Dr. Kate Smith, executive director of the Delaware Academy of Medicine and Public Health.

Dawn Ferguson, chair of CHWAD, added that certification will provide clarity and confidence for CHWs operating within a complex healthcare landscape. “It helps define their role and strengthens trust across the health and social service landscape,” she said.