American Public Health Association (APHA)Community Health Worker Definition
A community health worker (CHW) 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.
How would you best define your organization?
College/University/School Community/Faith-based organization Clinic, primary care Federally Qualified Health Center Health Department - state or county Home health or home-based services agency Hospital Insurance or managed care agency Other
Please describe your organization in a few words if you define your organization as "other".
What is the name of the organization you represent?
In what setting do community health workers provide services in your organization? (select all that apply) Clinic
College or university
Faith based organization
Hospital
Health department
Patient home based
School (k-12)
Social service agency
Other community setting
Not applicable
Please briefly describe "other" settings.
Please provide the zip code for the primary location of your organization.
What counties are included in your organizational service area? (select all that apply) Statewide - all counties
Barbour
Berkeley
Boone
Braxton
Brooke
Cabell
Calhoun
Clay
Doddridge
Fayette
Gilmer
Grant
Greenbrier
Hampshire
Hancock
Hardy
Harrison
Jackson
Jefferson
Kanawha
Lewis
Lincoln
Logan
Marion
Marshall
Mason
McDowell
Mercer
Mineral
Mingo
Monongalia
Monroe
Morgan
Nicholas
Ohio
Pendleton
Pleasant
Pocahontas
Preston
Putnam
Raleigh
Randolph
Ritchie
Roane
Summers
Taylor
Tucker
Tyler
Upshur
Wayne
Webster
Wetzel
Wirt
Wood
Wyoming
Do you or your organization provide services in other states? Yes
No
Please list states.
Choose one of the following that best describes your role in your organization or community setting. Administrator Care Coordinator/Case Manager Community Health Worker Discharge Planner Human Resource Manager Licensed Social Worker Nurse - RN/LPN Physician Physician Assistant Other
If you selected "other", please describe your role in a few words.
If you are a community health worker, what is your level of formal education? G.E.D. or high school diploma
Some college
Associates degree
Bachelor degree or above
As a community health worker, what is your employment status? Paid employee Volunteer AmeriCorps Other
Describe your employment if you selected "other".
How many hours do you work as a community health worker per week? Less than 1 hour
1-9 hours
10 - 19 hours
20 - 29 hours
30 - 39 hours
40 - 49 hours
Greater than 50 hours
What is your average hourly rate of pay?
Do you currently have benefits such as paid sick leave, paid vacation and insurance options? Yes
No
Select the following options that best describes how your organization utilizes the position of community health worker (select all that apply). My organization employs community health workers.
My organization employs supervisors/coordinators of community health workers.
My organization does not employ community health workers currently.
My organization has community health workers that are volunteers.
My organization employs AmeriCorps or similar individuals performing work as a community health worker.
Other (please explain below)
If you selected "other" above, please briefly describe how your organization utilizes the position of community health worker.
If your organization does not employ community health workers, please provide an explanation, (ie: unfamiliar with CHW profession, funding issues, etc).
If your organization is somewhat likely or not likely to employ community health workers in the near future, would you please explain (i.e. not necessary, funding issues, etc.)?
Is the work performed by community health workers in your organization related to any of the following health issues? (select all that apply) Asthma
Cancer
COPD
Diabetes
Chronic pain
Heart disease/hypertension
Hepatitis
HIV/AIDS
Injury prevention
Emergency preparedness
Maternal and child health
Mental/behavioral health issues
Obesity
Oral health
Substance use disorders
Tobacco cessation
Wellness checks - home based
Not applicable
Other
Briefly describe "other" health issues below.
In your organization, what resource referrals do community health workers offer to the people they serve? (select all that apply) Child care
Education assistance
Employment
Food assistance
Fuel assistance
Health care
Health insurance enrollment
Housing
Income assistance
Legal services
Mental health services
Substance use disorder programs
Translation/interpretation
Transportation
Violence prevention services
Not applicable/do not connect people to services
Other
Describe "other" resource referrals.
What activities do community health workers in your organization perform? (select all that apply) Advocacy
Assessments
Capacity building
Case finding/recruitment
Case management
Clinical services
Collaboration with other agencies
Counseling
Enrollment in health benefits
Follow up to referrals
Fundraising/grant writing
Health education/information
Health inequity interventions
Health fairs
Health screenings
Home visits
Coordinating/facilitating support groups
Peer education/mentoring/training
Education/presentations in schools, community centers, churches, etc.
Teach classes/workshops
Translation/interpretation
Youth services/outreach
Not applicable
Other
If you selected "other" for activities performed by CHWs, please provide a brief description.
In your organization, which population(s) do community health workers serve? (select all that apply) Pregnant or postpartum women and infants
Children/adolescents
Farm workers
Foreign national/immigrants/refugees
Individuals experiencing homelessness
LGBTQ+ communities
Individuals with disabilities
Individuals with substance use disorder
Individuals with mental health/behavioral conditions
Rural communities
Seniors (65 years or older)
Uninsured individuals
Veterans
Not applicable
Other
Please provide a brief description of "other" populations served.
How are community health workers and their supervisors trained in your organization (select all that apply)? My organization has an internal community health worker training program.
My organization utilizes an external community health worker training program.
My organization uses an online community health worker training program.
My organization utilizes a combination of internal, external and/or online community health worker training program.
Not applicable
Please list name of training(s) used.
In your organization, who provides training and continuing education for community health workers?
Which of the following training topics should be offered to community health workers? (select all that apply) Advocacy
Chronic disease management
Communication skills
Cultural competency
Evaluation/outcomes
Health education
Infectious disease
Leadership
Maternal/child health
Mental health
Motivational interviewing
Nutrition
Oral health
Organizational skills
Patient navigation
Physical activity
Research
Service/care coordination
Sexual health
Telehealth/telemedicine
Tobacco control
Other
All of the above
Please provide a brief description of "other" training topics for CHWS.
Community Health Worker Core Competencies
CHW Core Consesus (C3) Project
The C3 Project is a national assessment and review of community health workers. Primary aims of the C3 Project are to expand cohesion in the field and to contribute to the visibility and greater understanding of the full potential of Community Health Workers (CHWs) to improve health, community development, and access to systems of care. Importantly, the C3 Project offers a single set of CHW roles and competencies for reference by those both inside and outside the field as they work to build greater support for and sustainability among CHWs in all settings. Core competencies are a set of foundational skills desirable for the broad practice of community health workers. This report has been presented nationally at APHA conference and other national and state conferences to update CHW national standards and recommendations.
Citation; E.L. Rosenthal; P. Menking; and J. St. John. The Community Health Worker Core Consensus (C3) Project: A Report of the C3 Project Phase 1 and 2, Together Leaning Toward the Sky A National Project to Inform CHW Policy and Practice Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, 2018.
Would you like more information about the community health worker profession? Yes
No
If yes, please share your contact information including name, phone number, email address and organization name and address, or if you prefer, you can contact the CRCH directly to provide your contact information.
Are you aware of the National Association of Community Health Workers? Yes
No
Is there a need for a West Virginia community health worker technical assistance center (an organization providing targeted support for CHW trainings, resources, development, sustainability, etc.)? Yes
No
Would you like to be more involved with the community health worker profession and workforce development in West Virginia? Yes
No
If yes, please share your contact information including name, phone number, email address and organization name and address, or if you prefer, you can contact the CRCH directly to provide your contact information.
In your opinion, is there a need for the establishment of a West Virginia Association of Community Health Workers (an organization for and directed by CHWs)? Yes
No
Would you like to participate in the establishment of such an organization? Yes
No
If yes, please share your contact information including your name, phone number, email address and organization name and address, or if you prefer, you can contact the CRCH directly to provide your contact information.
Is there anything else you would like to share that should be considered for CHW workforce development in WV?
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