CHW Central

A global resource for and about Community Health Workers

North America (U.S. and Canada)

Advancing Health Equity Through Community Health Workers and Peer Providers: Mounting Evidence and Policy Recommendations

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Community health workers are often overlooked and underutilized as powerful change agents for health equity. This report, based on a review of nine studies, provides evidence and policy recommendations. It describes the value of including CHWs in healthcare delivery systems for addressing inequities. … [Read more...] about Advancing Health Equity Through Community Health Workers and Peer Providers: Mounting Evidence and Policy Recommendations

Support for Community Health Workers to Increase Health Access and to Reduce Health Inequities

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Communities across the United States face numerous challenges in terms of health status and access to care. Community health workers (CHWs) provide major assistance in delivery of health resources through a community centered approach. This policy document from the American Public Health Association (APHA) updates the organization’s 2001 policy … [Read more...] about Support for Community Health Workers to Increase Health Access and to Reduce Health Inequities

Mobilizing Community Health Workers to Address Mental Health Disparities for Underserved Populations: A Systematic Review

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This systematic review assesses the evidence on integrating community health workers (CHWs) into the delivery of mental health services in the United States and low- and middle- income countries. It includes 43 articles of which 39 are trials. The article highlights CHW background characteristics, their role in the mental health service provision, and the types of interventions … [Read more...] about Mobilizing Community Health Workers to Address Mental Health Disparities for Underserved Populations: A Systematic Review

Enabling Community Health Worker Recognition and Referral of Surgical Diseases: Pilot Study Results of a Pictorial Guide

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Access to surgical care represents a pressing challenge in LMICs, particularly for vulnerable populations. Community health workers (CHWs) and lay people play diverse roles in primary health care in these settings. However, they remain disconnected from surgical care in most environments. This study looked to assess the degree to which CHW understanding of surgical conditions … [Read more...] about Enabling Community Health Worker Recognition and Referral of Surgical Diseases: Pilot Study Results of a Pictorial Guide