Community health workers (CHWs) have gained increased visibility in the United States. We discuss how to strengthen the role of CHWs to enable them to become collaborative leaders in dramatically changing health care from “sickness care” systems to ones that provide comprehensive care for individuals and families and support community and tribal wellness. We recommend drawing … [Read more...] about Community Health Workers Can Be a Public Health Force for Change in the United States: Three Actions for a New Paradigm
CHW Role
‘I Am Who I Serve’—Community Health Workers In Family Planning Programs
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
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
The Community Health Worker’s Sourcebook: A Training Manual for Preventing Heart Disease and Stroke
Community health workers (CHWs) can play a critical role in promoting healthy living by educating community members about heart disease and stroke prevention and by helping people understand the importance of health care self-management, especially in underserved communities throughout the United States. The Community Health Worker’s Sourcebook: A Training Manual for … [Read more...] about The Community Health Worker’s Sourcebook: A Training Manual for Preventing Heart Disease and Stroke