Knowledge and Attitudes of Potential Community Health Worker Employers: Findings from the State of Arkansas, USA

Authors: Jordan Fletcher, M Kathryn Stewart, Sarah Fountain, Anna Huff Davis, Naomi Cottoms, Becky Adams, Taiwo Adesoba, Holly Felix 8, Thomas Chung

In this qualitative study, authors sought to understand stakeholder knowledge and attitudes about community health workers in Arkansas, United States. Researchers distributed an online survey to 151 respondents from state and local health organizations and systems. More than 90 percent of respondents believed that CHWs can effectively serve as liaisons, help patients navigate the healthcare system, and participate in care coordination. Additionally, more than 90 percent agreed that standardized training and clear scopes of practice are essential for CHWs. Despite the results of the surveys, nearly two-thirds of participants reported that their organization did not employ CHWs. The results of this study suggest that health professionals understand the importance of community health work, yet fail to adequately employ CHWs. In the future, more steps can be taken to encourage greater workforce integration of CHWs among local and state health organizations.