A community health worker is a front line public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding to 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 (American Public Health Association CHW definition).

A CHW proactively:

  • 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
  • Serves as a liaison between communities and health care agencies
  • Provides guidance and social assistance to community residents
  • Provides culturally and linguistically appropriate health education
  • Enhances community residents’ ability to effectively communicate with healthcare providers
  • Advocates for individual and community health
  • Provides referral and follow-up services or otherwise coordinates care
  • Identifies and helps enroll eligible individuals in federal, state, and local private or nonprofit health and human services programs.

Certification

CHWs who are trained and have field experience may be eligible to apply for CHW certification through the Pennsylvania Certification Board. All community Care HUB CHWs either possess their CHW certification or are working toward it. Community Health Worker certification aligns with Pennsylvania CHW standards.

Resources