The HAP Foundation selected to lead Lake County CHW Learning Collaborative
The HAP Foundation has been selected to lead the Lake County Community Health Worker Learning Collaborative and Medicaid Assessment Initiative funded by The Hunter Family Foundation, the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County, and the Steans Family Foundation. This initiative is in partnership with the Illinois Public Health Association and the Illinois Primary Health Care Association.
“The HAP Foundation is deeply committed to building a strong and sustainable future for Community Health Workers,” President Joseph Matty said. “We are proud and grateful to receive this competitive award and look forward to working collaboratively with our partners IPHA, IPHCA, and community stakeholders in Lake County. This partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening the CHW workforce and advancing sustainable funding strategies that promote long term community health and well-being.”
Together with IPHA, IPHCA, and Lake County community-based organizations, The HAP Foundation will provide training and support in working toward the Illinois CHW professional certification, facilitate opportunities for mentorship, explore systems of coordinated care, and assist employers in leveraging Medicaid reimbursement, when applicable, for CHW services in Lake County. The HAP Foundation will also empower and support Lake County CHWs in creating a strong professional community and network ensuring a participatory, coordinated, and resilient local workforce.
The HAP Foundation was selected for its extensive experience in community education, CHW training and mentorship, and long-standing partnerships across Lake County, according to the award funding organizations. This multiyear initiative will strengthen CHW professional development while incorporating lived experience into program design and implementation.
With many years of experience in serious illness and grief care, The HAP Foundation launched its CHW Program to address barriers in accessing care and promote culturally informed, community-driven education about hospice and palliative care services. Through its monthly Community Health Learning Collective and the Missing Pieces grief navigation program, HAP provides direct outreach, education, and support to thousands of Illinois residents, especially in underserved areas of Lake County, Chicago, and suburban Cook County. In 2025, this team reached more than 30,000 community members, of which approximately 12,000 reside in Lake County. HAP also launched Illinois’ second U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program for CHWs, the first with a statewide reach.
Sessions for the Lake County CHW Learning Collaborative and Medicaid Assessment Initiative are expected to launch this year. For more information, visit thehapfoundation.org/community-education.
The HAP Foundation is an independent nonprofit that provides education, advocacy, workforce development, and research on hospice, palliative care, and grief for all ages. With four decades rooted in direct patient care, it currently focuses on educating communities and professionals on hospice and palliative care; engaging in community-based research to better understand and impact disparities in hospice, palliative care, and grief support; increasing the Community Health Worker workforce to strengthen and share serious illness resources and education in the community; and advancing policies that assist individuals and families during end of life. Also, The HAP Foundation offers association management and consulting services. Learn more at thehapfoundation.org.