FL Community Health Worker Coalition

01/08/2026

We invite women to join a focus group exploring “Deconstructing Maternal Burdens: Doulas and the Community UNITE for Health.”

This project will examine an enhanced doula model to improve support for mothers, families, and doulas in Florida—and your perspective is essential.

Who we’re looking for:
Women ages 18 and older who are currently pregnant and receiving Medicaid or are uninsured, or who gave birth within the past 3 years and were receiving Medicaid or were uninsured during their pregnancy or postpartum period.

What you’ll do:
-Participate in a 90-minute focus group
-Provide basic demographic data
-Agree to audio recording

When & where:
-Saturday, January 10th from 10:30 am-to 12:00 pm
-Cone Park Library: 2801 E University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32641

Participants will receive a $50 stipend and light refreshments. If this opportunity interests you, please complete our short questionnaire to register:

(Scan QR Code)
If you have any questions, please contact Julia Rainer at 352-665-5255 or email jrainer@ufl.edu. Thank you for considering to participate. We value your time and appreciate you sharing your experiences. Please share information within your respective networks.

01/07/2026

Our partners at the Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center are offering a 40-Hour Medical Interpreting Training. The class begins February 10, 2025.

01/07/2026

Our community partner at UF HealthStreet are seeking CHWs to share feedback on the SAFE4BOTH digital platform supporting pregnant and parenting women. The session will run from 60-75 minutes. For more information, please contact Dr. Catherine Striley, her contact information is in the flyer.

01/07/2026

We’re happy to share this opportunity from one of our community partners and to continue connecting our network of CHWs and other health professionals with meaningful learning opportunities.

12/31/2025

Happy New Year!

As we step into a new year, we honor Community Health Workers, the trusted voices, frontline leaders and heartbeat of our communities. May this year bring renewed strength, continued impact, and deeper support for the work you do every day. Thank you for walking alongside families and communities with compassion, courage, and purpose.

12/30/2025

CMS Announces Rural Health Transformation Program Awards on December 29, 2025

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced awards under the Rural Health Transformation Program, a historic $50 billion, five-year investment to strengthen rural health systems nationwide.

Authorized by Public Law 119-21, the program distributes $10 billion annually (FY 2026–FY 2030). Fifty percent of funding is allocated equally to approved states, with the remaining funds awarded based on need, rurality, state policy readiness, and projected impact, as detailed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

All 50 states received FY 2026 awards, reflecting a nationwide commitment to rural health transformation.

FY 2026 State Award Amounts

Alabama. $203,404,327
Alaska. $272,174,856
Arizona. $166,988,956
Arkansas. $208,779,396
California. $233,639,308
Colorado. $200,105,604
Connecticut. $154,249,106
Delaware $157,394,964
Florida. $209,938,195
Georgia. $218,862,170
Hawaii. $188,892,440
Idaho. $185,974,368
Illinois. $193,418,216
Indiana. $206,927,897
Iowa. $209,040,064
Kansas. $221,898,008
Kentucky. $212,905,591
Louisiana. $208,374,448
Maine. $190,008,051
Maryland. $168,180,838

Massachusetts $162,005,238
Michigan. $173,128,201
Minnesota. $193,090,618
Mississippi. $205,907,220
Missouri. $216,276,818
Montana. $233,509,359
Nebraska. $218,529,075
Nevada. $179,931,608
New Hampshire $204,016,550
New Jersey. $147,250,806
New Mexico. $211,484,741
New York. $212,058,208
North Carolina. $213,008,356
North Dakota. $198,936,970
Ohio $202,030,262
Oklahoma. $223,476,949
Oregon. $197,271,578
Pennsylvania. $193,294,054
Rhode Island $156,169,931
South Carolina $200,030,252
South Dakota $189,477,607
Tennessee $206,888,882
Texas $281,319,361
Utah. $195,743,566
Vermont $195,053,740
Virginia. $189,544,888
Washington $181,257,515
West Virginia. $199,476,09
Wisconsin. $203,670,005
Wyoming. $205,004,743

CMS will partner closely with states through dedicated project officers, technical assistance, progress reporting, and annual convenings at the CMS Rural Health Summit. This investment marks a landmark federal–state collaboration to improve access, quality, and sustainability of care in rural communities nationwide.

12/22/2025

Our Medical Interpreting Training is shaped by real-world experience — and it shows in the feedback we receive from our participants.

Graduates consistently describe the course as clear, supportive, and confidence-building, with instruction that prepares them for professional practice and national certification.

📅 Registration is now open for our February Medical Interpreting Training.

Scan the QR code to learn more and register.

12/21/2025

12/18/2025

Starting in 2026, Florida will join 17 other states in limiting what can be purchased with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits under a USDA food-choice waiver.

As part of this pilot program, designed to promote healthier diets for low-income households, the state will prohibit the use of SNAP benefits to buy certain sugary and ultra-processed foods beginning April 20, 2026 and continuing through April 19, 2028.

Under the new rules in Florida, SNAP recipients will no longer be able to use their benefits to buy:

Soda: defined as carbonated beverages with added sugar or artificial sweeteners (plain carbonated water and some low-sugar or juice-based drinks remain eligible).

Energy drinks: beverages with added caffeine marketed for energy boost.

Candy: including chocolates, gummies, hard candies, and similar sweets.

Prepared desserts: ready-to-eat packaged sweet treats like donuts, cookies, and snack cakes.

These restrictions are authorized under a USDA waiver that lets states redefine what SNAP benefits can buy in order to support better nutrition outcomes. Participating states will report on impacts and share data as part of the demonstration project.