about CHWs
Who is a Community Health Worker (CHW)?
A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a front-line public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/ link/ intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.
A Community Health Worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy.
–The American Public Health Association
The roles of CHWs
This video produced by our partners at The Center for Community Health Alignment (CCHA) shows how community health workers work with their communities and help community members connect to health care systems and other community resources.
National CHW Partners
The collective experience of the envision team has developed a strong understanding of the need for partnership and collaboration in doing the important work we all do. The sharing of resources, knowledge, and lived experience are essential in this space.
Below is a collection of key resources from 11 national partners working towards CHW workforce sustainability. Click on the logos to access resources offered from these vital partners.
Working for CHW Sustainability
Sustaining the CHW workforce is vital for the well-being of CHWs, the communities they serve, and the organizations that employ them. envision has gathered resources and developed new tools to support the development and implementation of CHW sustainability plans. To learn more, visit our sustainability page.
