Policy efforts toward health-related issues was born out of a congressional briefing hosted by the Research-to-Policy Collaboration’s (RPC) through the National Prevention Science Coalition in 2017. This briefing connected legislative priorities with research expertise on the Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program. Since then, RPC has worked with congressional offices to cover a range of health topics including infant mortality, early childhood health, and health disparities affecting specific communities or populations.
The direct care workforce, such as home health aides and nursing assistants, comprise about 5 million workers. They are crucial in providing essential services to vulnerable populations, including older adults and individuals with disabilities. However, these workers often face significant challenges, including low wages and lack of career advancement, which harm their health.
Telehealth has evolved from a concierge convenience for private insurance companies into an essential tool for increasing access to care1 and improving health equity.2 The benefits and challenges of telehealth and telementoring are documented, as are recommendations for policymakers to consider to improve individuals’ access to care.
CHWs are trusted frontline public health workers who have a unique understanding of the communities they serve. CHWs can act as liaisons between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to, and improve the quality and cultural competency, of service delivery.