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Responding to public health trends, news, and issues affecting community health workers across our network this year hasn’t been easy. At PGN, we’ve monitored rapidly changing policies, mass layoffs, decreased funding, and ongoing measles outbreaks.
At the same time, our reporting and listening reveals that health workers continue to find ways to get their communities vaccinated. They’re steadfast in this work despite growing false claims and dismantled health departments and advisory committees.
We’re inspired by the innovative and resilient ways in which health workers continue to show up for their communities.
Here are three important insights they’ve shared about navigating challenges—and a look back at conversations worth revisiting.
Lean into planning
In times of uncertainty, planning becomes even more important. Community-based organizations this year have given us concrete examples of how they’re meeting the moment by investing in deep listening, strategic messaging, tools, and tactics to reach the communities they serve.
As Karen Jachimowski Sharpnack of the Idaho Immunization Coalition explained, “We’re not guessing. We’re actually listening to people. And then, we’re making really concrete decisions on how we’re going to move the organization forward to be able to help our communities.”
- How a health care directory is connecting LGBTQ+ communities to more services
- How health workers can better connect with young adults about their sexual health
- How an Idaho vaccine advocacy org plans its annual goals
Use shared experience to connect folks to care
Many health workers belong to the communities they serve. Being able to connect with their communities through shared experiences may better equip health workers to understand what they truly need and find new ways of getting them help.
“Mental health stigma is really rampant,” said Yasmin Flasterstein, co-founder and executive director for Peer Support Space.
“When you combine these layers of cultural stigma that a lot of communities face, a lot of times, it just feels more approachable to talk to somebody else who’s been there before.”
- How immigration policies impact community mental health
- How an Orlando nonprofit works to make mental health services more accessible
- Michigan community center supports young people’s mental health
Remain flexible
A lot has happened since January, particularly for nonprofit organizations dedicated to increasing vaccine awareness in underserved communities. COVID-19 and the flu are still around in 2025, but now, measles outbreaks in several states and a surge in whooping cough highlight the need for tailored vaccine outreach.
Despite funding cuts that once supported COVID-19 vaccine outreach and new executive orders shifting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, health workers are still working hard to connect their communities with trustworthy vaccine information.
As Rekha Lakshmanan of The Immunization Partnership described, “It’s a little bit of a whack-a-mole situation, because it’s coming from a number of different angles.”