Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification update for Primary Care Plus Practices (PCPlus)
As PCPlus continues to strengthen care coordination, prevention, and community-based support across Maine, weare happy to announce that Maine now has a certification option for CHWs.
What this Means for PCPlus Practices
CHWs play a vital role in improving patient outcomes, reducing barriers to care, and supporting whole-person health. For PCPlus practices that are eligible for Tier 2 and 3, CHW services are required to be provided by CHWs who:
- receive training on core competencies defined by The Community Health Worker Core Consensus Project or,
- hold a Maine CHW certification or registration.
Next Steps
We encourage PCPlus practices to:
- Review current CHW roles and certification status of contracted partners
- Begin planning for certification timelines and costs
- Support CHWs in enrolling in approved training and certification programs
Looking ahead, CHW certification may eventually become a requirement for all CHWs in PCPlus. However, we will provide advance notice before we implement this change. The CHW certification process, additional guidance, and resources on the certification process are available through the Maine Community Health Worker Initiative. For more information or to start the certification process, visit their website.
Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to strengthening Maine’s CHW workforce and advancing integrated, community-informed care.
For questions regarding PCPlus, please contact: PCP-Network-Services.DHHS@maine.gov