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BELOW ARE EASY STEPS FOR YOU TO FOLLOW TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN HELPING THE BUDGET PASS THE MINNESOTA HOUSE AND SENATE WITH FUNDING FOR CHWS!
WHO SHOULD YOU CONTACT?
Find out who represents you in the MN House and MN Senate AND their contact info: https://www.gis.leg.mn/iMaps/districts/
The budget must pass through the Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee and House Health Finance and Policy Committee. Click the links to see who is on each committee, and we encourage you to reach out if you are one of their constituents.
Even if your representative is not on one of these committees, it is still important to connect with them and encourage them to support the important work of CHWs!
WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY?
We encourage you to speak from the head (facts) and the heart (your story). In the templates below we have provided some of the facts and we invite you to include your story.
1. You can CALL or EMAIL your House or Senate representatives. Below is an EMAIL TEMPLATE and ideas for a PHONE script – please personalize to share your voice and stories.
Honorable Representative/Senator NAME
I am writing to you to express support for the Community Health Worker (CHW) line item in the Governor’s Supplemental Budget to educate, strengthen, equip, evaluate and grow the CHW Workforce.
CHWs are the health equity workforce. Many CHWs represent BIPOC communities. They come from the communities they serve, providing the link to coverage and care, and are an investment in those communities. Research indicates that CHWs show a return on investment of at least three dollars for every dollar invested in them. They serve as liaisons between health care, social service systems, and communities. They also work in other systems such as public safety, public schools, childcare, elder services and many more.
Add a note about what you do: Why are CHWs important to your community? How do you and other CHWs impact people and families in your community?
CHWs are uniquely positioned to improve health outcomes and health equity within our state. This funding will lead to increased healthcare access, lower healthcare costs and improved health outcomes for your constituents facing barriers to care.
Thank you for your support,
NAME/ORGANIZATION
EMAIL/PHONE NUMBER (for contact)
2. You can also write to thank Governor Walz here: https://mn.gov/governor/contact/ Below is an EMAIL TEMPLATE to write the Governor – please personalize to share your voice and stories.
Honorable Governor Walz
Thank you for supporting Community Health Workers in your Supplemental Budget. Funding support for the CHW role will strengthen, equip, evaluate, and grow the CHW workforce in Minnesota and nationally.
Add a note about what you do: Why are CHWs important to your community? How do you and other CHWs impact people and families in your community?
I support your effort to move Minnesota’s Community Health Worker role to the next level and support all Minnesotans in achieving high-quality healthcare and social services.
Sincerely,
NAME/ORGANIZATION
EMAIL/PHONE NUMBER (for contact)
REPORT BACK
To help us keep a record of outreach, please copy (cc-ing) the Alliance’s Executive Director Adri Lobitz in your emails (adrianna.lobitz@mnchwalliance.org) and send a note about who you called.
TESTIMONY:
We are seeking a list of people willing to provide testimony -- CHWs, supervisors, employers, payers, providers, patients, and their families. Your help identifying people is greatly appreciated and if you would like to testify please reach out to Alliance’s Executive Director Adri Lobitz (adrianna.lobitz@mnchwalliance.org)
PROPOSED FUNDING LANGUAGE:
Page 36 of the Governor's budget states "The Governor recommends expanding, strengthening, equipping, and evaluating the community health worker workforce in Minnesota to support the health and well-being of Minnesotans by partnering with the Community Health Worker Alliance to promote the profession and scope of practice, conduct program evaluation, and provide technical assistance. Specific activities include an awareness campaign, partnerships with employers, research and evaluation of Community Health Worker models, and a statewide infrastructure plan."
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