Illinois Community Health Worker (CHW) Recruitment & Certification Campaign
Building Awareness. Strengthening the Workforce. Supporting Communities.
Illinois is launching a statewide Community Health Worker (CHW) recruitment and certification awareness campaign to increase visibility of the CHW role, support workforce growth, and prepare communities and employers for upcoming certification and Medicaid changes.
The campaign makes it easier for people to learn about CHW careers, for organizations to recruit and hire CHWs, and for partners to share clear, consistent information across Illinois.
What Is CHW Certification?
Once implemented, certification is expected to formally recognize CHWs’ skills, experience, and training while supporting workforce development and clear career pathways. It will also strengthen the role of CHWs within health and community systems and increase employers’ ability to bill for and receive reimbursement for CHW services, helping integrate CHWs more fully into care teams.
Why Certification Matters?
Certification supports the long‑term strength of the CHW workforce by formally recognizing CHWs’ skills, experience, and community knowledge, strengthening their roles as essential members of healthcare and public health teams, and supporting clear career pathways and workforce development. It also helps move CHW positions away from reliance on short‑term grants by creating a more stable funding stream and enables Medicaid payment for eligible CHW services, improving job stability and sustainability across Illinois.
Who Will Certification Be For?
The certification process is being developed for current Community Health Workers and individuals interested in becoming a CHW.
Recruitment Tools
This campaign includes a statewide, ready‑to‑use toolkit designed for employers, partners, and community organizations to support CHW recruitment efforts. The recruitment tools help organizations clearly explain what a Community Health Worker is and what they do, share simple and consistent messages about certification, and reach potential CHWs through trusted local voices. The toolkit also introduces CHW careers as an accessible and meaningful workforce pathway while helping reduce confusion about certification requirements by presenting information in a clear, straightforward way.
The toolkit includes CHWs explained materials, frequently asked questions, employer briefs, career pathway overviews, and ready‑to‑use social graphics and flyers, along with sample email copy and recruitment talking points.
CHW Tools - Flyers & Fillable Forms
These resources are designed to be easily shared, reshared, and adapted for local use, helping partners recruit Community Health Workers more effectively while maintaining clear and consistent messaging statewide.
Community Based Organization Templates
Static Social - META Facebook and Instagram
META (Facebook and Instagram)
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: Career Pathways Start Here Description: Explore CHW roles and growth Primary Text: Community Health Workers build meaningful careers with multiple paths forward—careers recognized by labor groups for those who care for their community.
META (Facebook and Instagram)
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: CHW Certification Explained Description: What it is and why it matters Primary Text: CHW certification will establish consistent standards, support career pathways, and strengthen the public health workforce statewide.
META (Facebook and Instagram)
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: Already a Community Health Worker? Description: Prepare for certification Primary Text: Certification is coming. Learn how to stay informed, talk with your employer, and prepare for the next step in your CHW career.
META (Facebook and Instagram)
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: Recruit Community Health Workers Description: Build trusted connections Primary Text: CHWs are trusted community members who connect people to care, reduce barriers, and strengthen health and human service systems.
META (Facebook and Instagram)
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: Get Certified as a CHW Description: Make your CHW work official Primary Text: Illinois is preparing for statewide Community Health Worker certification to recognize your skills, experience, and impact in communities.
META (Facebook and Instagram)
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: Did You Know? CHWs Work Everywhere Description: Many settings, one mission Primary Text: Community Health Workers serve in clinics, nonprofits, schools, health departments, courts, and community‑based organizations.
META (Facebook and Instagram)
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: CHW Certification: What Employers Need to Know Description: Certification, ROI, Impact Primary Text: Learn how Community Health Workers certification can strengthen your workforce, lead to billable services, and improve community health outcomes.
META (Facebook and Instagram)
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: Career Pathways Start Here Description: Explore CHW roles and growth Primary Text: Community Health Workers build meaningful careers with multiple paths forward—careers recognized by labor groups for those who care for their community.
Static Social - LinkedIn
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: Career Pathways Start Here Description: Explore CHW roles and growth Primary Text: Community Health Workers build meaningful careers with multiple paths forward—careers recognized by labor groups for those who care for their community.
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: CHW Certification Explained Description: What it is and why it matters Primary Text: CHW certification will establish consistent standards, support career pathways, and strengthen the public health workforce statewide.
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: Already a Community Health Worker? Description: Prepare for certification Primary Text: Certification is coming. Learn how to stay informed, talk with your employer, and prepare for the next step in your CHW career.
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: Recruit Community Health Workers Description: Build trusted connections Primary Text: CHWs are trusted community members who connect people to care, reduce barriers, and strengthen health and human service systems.
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: Get Certified as a CHW Description: Make your CHW work official Primary Text: Illinois is preparing for statewide Community Health Worker certification to recognize your skills, experience, and impact in communities.
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: Did You Know? CHWs Work Everywhere Description: Many settings, one mission Primary Text: Community Health Workers serve in clinics, nonprofits, schools, health departments, courts, and community‑based organizations.
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: CHW Certification: What Employers Need to Know Description: Certification, ROI, Impact Primary Text: Learn how Community Health Workers certification can strengthen your workforce, lead to billable services, and improve community health outcomes.
Click Link below to download
Caption Content Click below to copy and paste text Headline: Career Pathways Start Here Description: Explore CHW roles and growth Primary Text: Community Health Workers build meaningful careers with multiple paths forward—careers recognized by labor groups for those who care for their community.
Who Should Use These Tools?
These tools are designed for community‑based and nonprofit organizations, health departments, clinics and hospitals, workforce development and training programs, CHW supervisors and employers, as well as community leaders and partner organizations involved in recruitment and workforce support. No communications or marketing experience is required—the materials are built to be plug‑and‑play, making it easy for any organization to use and share them effectively.
Stay Informed
The CHW certification program and recruitment campaign are rolling out in phases, with new tools and information becoming available over time. To stay up to date. Come back to this site, follow updates from the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and watch your social media. This campaign supports CHWs today—while building a stronger, more stable CHW workforce for Illinois’ future.