Community Health Workers

• Curriculum Overview
• Curriculum Provider Certification
• Modules
• Resources

Definitions

The Department of Health and Senior Services has adopted the American Public Health Association’s definition of Community Health Workers (CHWs) that states, "A community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding for the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a similar definition that states, "A community health worker (CHW) is a frontline public health worker who lives in or is trusted by the community. A CHW connects people to health and social services by breaking down barriers related to the social determinants of health."

Scope of Practice

According to the Community Health Worker Core Consensus (C3) Project, CHWs core roles and responsibilities include the following:

• Cultural Mediation Among Individuals, Communities and Health and Social Service Systems
• Providing Culturally Appropriate Health Education and Information
• Care Coordination, Case Management and System Navigation
• Providing Coaching and Social Support
• Advocating for Individuals and Communities
• Building Individual and Community Capacity
• Providing Direct Service
• Implementing Individual and Community Assessments
• Conducting Outreach
• Participating in Evaluation and Research

For more detailed information regarding roles of CHWs, please review the C3 Project CHW Roles and Competencies Review Checklist.