Involving Community Health Workers as Evaluation Leaders in a National Community Health Worker Initiative

Authors: Victoria Adewumi, Sahlea Tubbeh, Nury Stemple, Floribella Redondo, Durrell Fox, Keara Rodela, Noelle Wiggins

This study examined how Community Health Workers (CHWs) helped evaluate a US initiative that supported communities during COVID-19 and prepared them for future health emergencies. CHWs took leadership roles in assessing the programme, helping ensure that the findings reflected the real needs and experiences of the communities they served. Although time constraints were a challenge, paying CHWs to take part in evaluation teams was a key success. The study recommends involving CHWs at every stage of research and evaluation, from planning to sharing results, to improve findings, strengthen their leadership, and support the long-term CHW workforce.