OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of ENABLE-MD, a Community Health Worker educational intervention to improve control of chronic diseases and quality of life. METHODS: Patients were initially recruited from the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) (hospital) discharge rolls and followed. Trained community health workers (CHWs) to intervene with Medicaid high-risk patients with chronic disease (e.g., diabetes and/or hypertension) in urban areas of west Baltimore city. Baseline clinic information and self-reported quality of life data were collected by the CHWs. The Medical Outcome Survey Short Form 36 (MOS SF-36) was used to measure the health-related quality of life of patients. From all ENABLE participants during 1999-2002, we reviewed the records of a convenient sample of 240 patients for a preliminary analysis. RESULTS: These 240 participants in the initial ENABLE-MD program and were followed by 6 months. Descriptive analysis indicated that male patients, patients with higher education, patients with longer duration of diabetes and higher BMI in the program tend to have more intensive CHW interventions. Seventy-eight patients completed MOS SF-36 survey before and after 6 month of CHW intervention. Initial analysis showed after six-month of intervention there were increases of the six out of seven dimensions of MOS SF-36 surveys except physical functions and general health. A total of 34 patients provided valid self-report blood glucose. Their serum glucose level decreased in the regular intervention group and intensive intervention group but increased in the comparison group. CONCLUSION: Experience with a group of high risk population in Baltimore demonstrated preliminary evidence that culturally sensitive community-based intervention can improve the chronic disease control and quality of life of minority population with limited resources.