Public Health

Health Disparities

Overview

The Health Disparities Program works with local partnering agencies to have Community Health Workers (CHWs) help our underserved communities throughout Fresno County.
CHWs help community residents by connecting them to needed resources. For example, CHWs meet with residents 1-on-1 to help them find a doctor, get health insurance, find a ride, get a job, and/or get help with mental health or family planning.
CHWs provide health education materials that are easy to understand and fit the language and culture of the communities they serve (CLAS: Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services).
- For more information about our Free CLAS Training click here.

Partnering CHW Agencies

Aria Community Health Center - Riverdale

Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño

Fresno HOPE
Fresno HOPE HUB was considered an emerging hub by the California Health Care Foundation, click here to view the report.*

How to become a CHW?

CHWs come from diverse backgrounds and are trusted members of the community. CHWs have received higher education and/or completed extensive training and work experience. CHWs within the Health Disparities program received Core CHW training in collaboration with Fresno State's Central Valley Health Policy Institute (CVHPI). For more information on CVHPI's CHW Training, click here.

Additionally, CHWs within the program meet all qualifications set by the C3 Project, also known as, The National C3 Council. Some of the roles and competencies outlined by C3 include the following:

Advocating for Individuals and Communities
Care Coordination, Case Management, and System Navigation
Conducting Outreach
Cultural Mediation Among Individuals, Communities, and Health and Social Service Systems
Implementing Individual and Community Assessments
Providing Coaching and Social Support
Providing Culturally Appropriate Health Education and Information
Providing Direct Services

Where can you find a CHW?

CHWs within the program are actively involved in outreach and provide services to clients across Fresno County. These areas include, but are not limited to, City of Fresno, Huron, Caruthers, Riverdale, Kerman, Mendota, Sanger, Del Rey, Parlier, Reedley, Orange Cove, and Selma.

Additionally, CHWs assist individuals at Fresno County's Rural Mobile Health (RMH) events, which offer free medical services via mobile health units to agricultural workers and people living in our rural communities.

Health Disparities Newsletter

The Health Disparities Newsletter is sent monthly via email to our community partners and organizations. It highlights monthly health awareness topics, health education materials, and community resources. If you are interested in being added to our email listserv, please contact CHWNetwork@fresnocountyca.gov.

2025 Newsletters (click to view):

February (PDF(PDF, 3MB))
March (PDF(PDF, 3MB))
April (English(PDF, 4MB), Español(PDF, 4MB))
May (English(PDF, 3MB), Español(PDF, 3MB))
June (English(PDF, 6MB), Español(PDF, 6MB))

Join our CHW Stakeholder Collaborative!

Join our Community Health Worker (CHW) Stakeholder Collaborative!

Meetings take place every third Tuesday quarterly from 9am-10am. If you are interested in attending our next meeting, please contact CHWNetwork@fresnocountyca.gov.

2025 Meeting Dates:

January 21st, 2025
April 15th, 2025
July 15th, 2025
October 21st, 2025