The Community Health Workers Section advocates for and promotes the voice and role of community health worker within public health, the community, and in healthcare settings; as well as contributes to the development of the CHW role (including Promotores de Salud, Community Health Representatives, Community Health Advisors, and other related titles) through policy, development opportunities, and provides a forum to share resources, activities, and strategies nationally. Read more about our Section leadership.
The CHW Section has adopted the following definition of a community health worker: A community health worker is a frontline 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.
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