Community Health Workers (CHW) Training Providers

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) seeks applications for training providers to develop, provide, and evaluate high-quality training, education, and professional development for community health workers (CHWs) and CHW supervisors as essential components of CHW workforce sustainability.

There are two main components to this funding opportunity:  

• Providing CHW Core Competency training and support
• Providing CHW Supervisor training and support 

Key dates

• Application release: July 31, 2026  
• Application submission due: August 21, 2026 
• Estimated date for award notification: October 2026 

Background

The Wisconsin Rural Health Transformation Program is focused on improving health care access and health outcomes in rural communities across Wisconsin. This funding opportunity is part of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a federal funding opportunity provided to states through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The DHS received a first-year award from CMS  for $203,670,005.21 to invest in rural capacity, sustainability, and innovation. The program aims to improve access to care through three initiatives: strengthening the health care workforce, enhancing technology innovation, and cultivating coordinated care partnerships. Through collaboration among health care providers, public health agencies, and community-based organizations, the program seeks to improve health and well-being in rural communities.  

This funding opportunity is part of the workforce initiative. CHWs, including Tribal Community Health Representatives (CHRs) and Promatores de Salud, serve as trusted connectors and help individuals navigate medical and non-medical services and systems, manage chronic conditions, and overcome barriers such as transportation, food insecurity, and limited access to care. In rural communities, where health care provider shortages and geographic isolation are common, community health workers strengthen outreach and promote healthier communities through support and connection to essential services.  

Eligible applicants

• Applicants must be able to reach and provide training to CHWs and CHW Supervisors in rural communities. Applicants eligible for this funding opportunity include, but are not limited to, the following potential applicants: 
  • Training organizations  
  • Academic institutions  
  • Community-based organizations   
  • Local and Tribal health departments   

Application submission

This application must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on August 21, 2026. Only complete applications submitted through this survey will be considered.  

Letters of support from project partners are encouraged but not required. Letters of support can be uploaded at the end of the application. It is recommended that applicants use a word processing program to complete the sections of the application to ensure word limits are observed for each question and pasted into the online submission format. Do not include personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI) in your responses. 

Applications must include:  

• Responses to the statements in the Application Questions section. Any information beyond the word count limits will not be read, reviewed, or scored.  
• Proposed budget and justification  
• Letters of support from key partners (minimum of two)

The budget, justification, and letters of support do not count toward the narrative response word limit.  

Applicants should reach out directly to DHS at DHSRuralHealth@dhs.wisconsin.gov for questions regarding technical difficulties with the application submission process.

This program is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $203,670,005.21 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.