A Community Health Worker 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.  -American Public Health Association    

CHWs improve individual and community health and access to care. They forge connections where people live, learn, work, play, pray, and age, from the inner city to rural communities. CHWs work in 10 roles and across 11 competencies to provide wraparound services and supports to patients.    

CHWs help to address the root of the issues that patients face while also contributing to helping the clinical care team improve health outcomes and the efficiency of care delivery. CHWs can assist with issues that keep your patients from addressing their health. They are perfectly positioned to address the Social Determinants of Health.  

As trusted resources in their communities, CHWs can be instrumental in combatting misinformation, relaying public health messages, and ensuring patients are connected with services.  By addressing the patients’ immediate, urgent needs, your patients are better able to focus and address their own personal healthcare issues.