Better Health Together is excited to share an important next step for our region’s community- based workforce: the Community-Based Workforce Network is becoming the Community-Based Workforce Association of Eastern Washington (CBWA).
While the name is changing, the heart of this group remains the same. The Association will continue to be a space for community-based workers across Eastern Washington to connect, learn, advocate, and grow together.
Why an Association?
This change is about more than a new name. It better reflects what this group has become and where we hope it can go next.
Community-based workers play an essential role in connecting people with resources and services, breaking down barriers, advocating for their communities, and helping people navigate complex systems. The Community-Based Workforce Association of Eastern Washington creates a stronger shared identity for this workforce and a professional home where members can build relationships, share knowledge, and strengthen their collective voice.
Becoming an Association also creates new opportunities to elevate the community-based workforce across our region and beyond. With a more defined identity, the group can strengthen its presence in Eastern Washington, build greater recognition at the state and national levels, and advocate more collectively for the workforce and the communities its members support.
A Name Shaped by the Workforce
This new name was shaped by the community-based workers who make up this group. Over the past year, the BHT team has worked alongside members to better understand their experiences, priorities, and vision for the future of the network.
Through conversations, activities, and member feedback, community-based workers shared what they wanted the group’s identity to represent: professionalism, impact, inclusivity, and a strong sense of connection across the region. At the July 2026 Community Based Workforce Network meeting, members reviewed potential names, shared feedback, and voted on the option that resonated most.
Community-Based Workforce Association of Eastern Washington emerged as the leading choice. This is a name shaped by the people it represents and designed to carry the group into its next chapter.
Recognizing the Full Community-Based Workforce
The community-based workforce can include Community Health Workers (CHWs), Community Health Representatives (CHRs), community coordinators, street outreach workers, family health advocates, lay health workers, health advisors, promotores/as de salud, outreach workers, doulas, patient navigators, and many others.
By centering the broader term community-based workforce, the Association can recognize and bring together the many professionals whose work is rooted in relationships, trust, advocacy, and connection to community.
The Same Values, With More Opportunity
As the Community-Based Workforce Association of Eastern Washington moves into this next chapter, four areas will continue to guide its work:
Advocacy — Elevating the workforce and the issues and needs members see in their communities at the local, regional, state, and national levels.
Connection — Creating opportunities for community-based workers to build relationships, share experiences, and learn from one another.
Education — Providing professional development and learning opportunities that strengthen the workforce.
Empowerment — Supporting mentorship, recognition, capacity building, and resources that help community-based workers thrive.
The new name gives us an opportunity to build on what already makes this group valuable while creating a stronger foundation for what comes next.
Whether you have been part of this group for years or are just learning about the community-based workforce, we hope you’ll be part of this next chapter.
Learn more about the Community-Based Workforce Association of Eastern Washington, upcoming opportunities, and ways to get involved here.
