Module 1: Introduction to Community Health Workers
Community health worker (CHW) is an umbrella term describing frontline public health and/or social service professionals who are close to and serve people within their community by addressing barriers to health and well-being. CHWs may work for pay or as volunteers in a variety of settings, including for a local agency, organization, or healthcare facility. CHWs share similarities with the communities they serve, including characteristics, culture, socioeconomic status, values, and life experiences. In general, CHWs are:
- Trusted members of the community they serve
- Responsive to the needs of community members
- Trained in the context of health interventions
- Recognized by health services and certification authorities
- Not necessarily professionally licensed
CHWs and their duties vary, reflecting the unique needs of the communities they serve. This module provides commonly used CHW definitions, describes the roles CHWs hold within rural communities. It also introduces the unique benefits and challenges rural communities face with CHW programs.