Your health story is more than the doctor’s office
Your health is shaped in the places where you spend most of your time—home, workplace, school—and depends on the resources you have access to, like:
- Healthy foods
- Reliable transportation
- Community services
- Access to education
- Employment opportunities
- Access to childcare
- Peer support
To effectively manage your health conditions and maintain a healthy lifestyle, you may need access to these basic resources.
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CHPW Community Health Workers
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are a key part of CHPW’s Community Support Services team. Many CHWs live in the same communities as our members and truly understand local needs. They offer one-on-one support to help you navigate life’s challenges.
CHWs can meet you at your local clinic, in your home, at a coffee shop, or over the phone.
How CHWs can help you
Community Health Workers can help you in many ways, from connecting you with local resources and programs, to working with CHPW case managers to make sure you get the medical care you need.
Here are some of the ways a CHW can help you with your everyday needs:
- Find local resources like housing assistance, food programs, transportation, and help with utility bills
- Attend medical appointments with you for extra support
- Arrange deliveries of groceries, medical supplies (like wheelchairs and walkers), and clothing
- Help fill out medical forms and other important paperwork
- Visit you in person to check in and see how you’re doing
- Work with CHPW case managers to coordinate your care
If you would like to connect with a Community Health Worker, you can either call the Community Support Services team at 1-866-418-7006 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or email them at [email protected].
My job is to walk alongside people, so they don’t have to figure it all out alone. I help them get connected to what they need, understand their health, and know what to do next and who can help.
– Sara W, Manager of CHPW’s CHW team
How the Community Support Services team can help you meet essential needs
The Community Support Services team connects you with programs and services in your community to help with your everyday needs.
Our team consists of specialists in housing, wellness and recovery, general health, and community-based services.
Basic needs
Anything that you need to live your everyday life counts as a basic need. Basic needs can include food, clothing, personal care items, and utilities. If you’re having trouble getting your basic needs met, the Community Support Services team can connect you to organizations in your community like food banks or shelters.
We can also help you with applications and follow-up. For example, let’s say you call CHPW because you’re having difficulty affording food:
- A staff member can assist you in applying for the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).
- They can also follow up on the progress of the application.
Forms and paperwork can be confusing and frustrating, and knowing that someone is with you through the process can make things easier.
Transportation
CHPW assists our members with getting safe, reliable transportation to and from medical appointments. We connect members to transportation services in your area, and can even arrange rides for you. Learn more about free rides to medical appointments.*
If you need transportation for reasons other than getting to your medical appointments, we can connect you with transportation vouchers and other services. We can support your public transit fares or resources for gas money and offer other services to help you travel affordably on your own schedule.
Housing
We provide support for those facing a housing crisis or who have concerns about their housing situation. Searching for affordable housing can be complicated, and we’re here to talk you through your options, which can include:
- Emergency housing
- Shelters
- Low-income housing
- Transitional housing
- Senior housing
We can assist you with any housing applications you may need to complete, including Section 8 applications and follow-up calls. We can also help you locate resources to help with rent, utility payments, repairs, and accommodations for your home (ex: grab bar installation).
If you are in danger of being evicted, we can connect you to eviction prevention resources and help answer your questions.
Employment support
We can help you with finding a job or job training.
This includes:
- Connecting you with Worksource
- Transportation support and resources for interviews
- Resume and interview support
- Childcare resources for interviews
- Help with continuing education
- Connecting you with volunteer opportunities
CHPW Community Health Workers support you in improving your health and well-being. If you need assistance and aren’t sure where to turn, call the Community Support Services team at 1-866-418-7006.
Other services
Findhelp
Findhelp is an online service that helps you find connections to community resources that assist with both social and health related needs. Findhelp is free and easy to use and it does not require any personal information or creating an account.
Findhelp provides clear steps for members to access the programs offered and the eligibility requirements.
Findhelp also offers assistance in finding resources such as food, house, transportation, employment, utilities, legal assistance, and more.
For more information or questions about how to use Findhelp or connect with your care team call 1-866-418-7006 or email [email protected].
Contact Community Support Services
Community Support Services Team
Tel: 866-418-7006
Email: [email protected]
*The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) covers transportation for individuals who otherwise have no means to access medical care.
