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Office of Community Health Workers
What is a Community Health Worker (CHW)?
According to the American Public Health Association, a community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of 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.
Connecting people to resources in the community
- Core CHW Roles
- Core CHW Skills
- 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.
- Communication
- Interpersonal and relationship-building
- Service coordination and navigation
- Capacity building
- Advocacy
- Education and facilitation
- Individual and community assessment
- Outreach
- Professional skills and conduct
- Evaluation and research
- Knowledge base
Are you a Community Health Worker wanting to get involved?
Are you a Community Health Worker looking to get involved? Explore opportunities and get involved in shaping the future of public health!
Contact your local county health department
Trying to find a Community Health Worker in your county? Looking to get involved as a Community Health Worker in your area? Locate your county health department here.
