CHW Central

A global resource for and about Community Health Workers

North America (U.S. and Canada)

Community-based participatory design of a community health worker breast cancer training intervention for South Florida Latinx farmworkers

Communities with limited access to medical care benefit from CHW-led education for noncommunicable diseases such as breast cancer. Natalia Rodriguez recruited community members to help design a culturally-appropriate, CHW-led education for breast cancer awareness and screening among South Floridian Latinx farmworkers. Implementation of this program demonstrated effective … [Read more...] about Community-based participatory design of a community health worker breast cancer training intervention for South Florida Latinx farmworkers

Considerations for building sustainable community health worker programs to improve maternal health

Despite growing evidence of the efficacy of CHW programs to achieve universal health coverage, limited short-term program funding in the US constrains the sustainability of these programs. Renee Mehra and colleagues examined factors contributing to sustainability of CHW programs targeting maternal health. They identified three key themes influencing program sustainability: … [Read more...] about Considerations for building sustainable community health worker programs to improve maternal health

Beyond the Rhetoric of Equity: Will the Frontline Healthcare Workers Who Serve the Poor Be Prioritized for the COVID Vaccine?

An international coalition of organizations representing 80 countries set an aggressive goal of making 2 billion Covid-19 vaccinations available by the end of 2021. Populations prioritized to receive vaccination include high risk and vulnerable persons and frontline healthcare workers. The definition of “frontline healthcare worker”, however, remains ambiguous and is likely to … [Read more...] about Beyond the Rhetoric of Equity: Will the Frontline Healthcare Workers Who Serve the Poor Be Prioritized for the COVID Vaccine?

Cost-effective care coordination for people with dementia at home

The Maximizing Independence (MIND) at Home program was developed to enable persons with dementia to receive comprehensive, home-based care. This program relies on a team of community health workers in collaboration geriatric psychiatrists and registered nurses specialized in dementia care. In response to pilot studies demonstrating success of this program in improving quality … [Read more...] about Cost-effective care coordination for people with dementia at home

A qualitative study of social connectedness and its relationship to community health programs in rural Chiapas, Mexico

Having social connections acts as a buffer against poor health and well-being. CHWs provide communities with an opportunity to strengthen social connectedness by living and working in the same locality. Rachel Deitz surveyed three towns in Chiapas, Mexico to understand local perspectives on the social benefits of a CHW-enhanced community clinic. Results of interviews indicated … [Read more...] about A qualitative study of social connectedness and its relationship to community health programs in rural Chiapas, Mexico