The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Community Health Worker Outreach Initiative has been extended after the federal government extended the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding into 2021.

Originally slated to end Dec. 30, this extension will provide an estimated $3 million in unspent funds for partner agencies to conduct outreach by deploying CHWs through the end of January and possibly into February.

The extension comes at a time when the county is experiencing a dangerous surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Having trusted community members as ambassadors will ensure that hardest hit communities are getting accurate information to help slow the spread.

The CHW Outreach initiative began mid-October with a budget of $18.5 million and mobilized a public health team of about 60 CHWs, and in partnership with California Community Foundation, contracted with 16 community-based organizations with existing peer outreach networks to conduct outreach countywide to those most impacted by the virus.

Together, these 16 agencies mobilized more than 900 part-time and full-time CHWs who conducted more than 200,000 outreach activities virtually and in the community across L.A. County, reaching an estimated 369,000 individuals, and distributing 232,000 face coverings and 60,000 hand sanitizer bottles.

“The Community Health Worker Outreach Initiative has been one of the most effective communication programs through Los Angeles County’s response to COVID-19 and this extension will allow critical efforts to continue across the hardest hit communities,” said Barbara Ferrer, director of Public Health.