For decades, family planning programs and other public health programs have utilized community health workers (CHWs) as a way to reach and serve disadvantaged populations, often immigrants leery of governmentsponsored programs. CHWs—who are generally lay members of the same communities these programs are seeking to serve—provide a variety of functions, including outreach, … [Read more...] about ‘I Am Who I Serve’—Community Health Workers In Family Planning Programs
Issue papers
A Summary of State Community Health Worker Laws
The Community Health Workers in Massachusetts: Improving Health Care and Public Health Report (2009) identifies four areas in which Departments of Public Health and partner organizations can develop a sustainable CHW program: infrastructure, professional identity, workforce development, and financing. The report includes recommendations in each area and a fact … [Read more...] about A Summary of State Community Health Worker Laws
Addressing Chronic Disease through Community Health Workers: A Policy and Systems-Level Approach. A Policy Brief on Community Health Workers
This document provides guidance and resources for implementing recommendations to integrate community health workers (CHWs) into community-based efforts to prevent chronic disease. After providing general information on CHWs in the United States, it sets forth evidence demonstrating the value and impact of CHWs in preventing and managing a variety of chronic diseases, including … [Read more...] about Addressing Chronic Disease through Community Health Workers: A Policy and Systems-Level Approach. A Policy Brief on Community Health Workers
Outcomes of Community Health Worker Interventions
This report conducts a systematic review of the evidence on characteristics of community health workers (CHWs) and CHW interventions, outcomes of such interventions, costs and cost-effectiveness of CHW interventions, and characteristics of CHW training. … [Read more...] about Outcomes of Community Health Worker Interventions
1 million community health workers in sub-Saharan Africa by 2015
This editorial piece discusses the importance of community health workers in low-income countries and proposes a CHW scale-up in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve MDGs and the overarching aim of health for all. … [Read more...] about 1 million community health workers in sub-Saharan Africa by 2015