Dual Certification Of Community Health Workers And Certified Peer Support Specialists Can Better Address Syndemics

Public health crises often converge, creating syndemics that exacerbate their collective impact. The intersecting challenges of HIV, hepatitis C (HCV), and opioid overdoses illustrate this phenomenon, disproportionately affecting marginalized populations and accentuating deep systemic inequities. Addressing these crises requires innovative, multifaceted strategies to enhance prevention, intervention, and recovery efforts.

The United States has made significant investments in community-based health care workforces to reduce health disparities and expand care access. In 2022, the Biden administration awarded $225 million in training grants to develop the community health workforce. Community health workers (CHWs) and peer support specialists (PSSs) are central to these efforts, bringing unique expertise to their respective fields. While these roles are distinct, they share complementary elements that can function...

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