CACHW.org

CAlifornia Community Health Worker Learning Collaborative

Vision

CHW of all job titles and cultural backgrounds are recognized and empowered to bring the voice of the community expertise to the decision making table in all aspects of promoting health and wellness in California

Mission

Promote statewide learning and collaboration between all individuals, groups, and networks that identify as or support and promote Community Health Workers; inclusive of all job titles, languages spoken and cultural backgrounds in California

Quotes

"A community is a place where every person knows that they can have a say in what is happening, every person knows how to make themselves heard and is respected for their contribution, and every person listens to understand ". Anonymous

“The widespread incorporation of CHWs into the health delivery system offers unparalleled opportunities to improve the delivery of preventive and primary care to America’s diverse communities.”

-Pew Health Professions Commission, 1994

Who is a Community Health Worker?

NACHW (APHA Definition)

The National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW) and many CHW advocacy collaboratives, alliances and associations across the USA are using the APHA- Community Health Worker Section (APHA)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 CHW 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 CHW 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."

Bureau of Labor and statistics

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 21-1094

Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS)Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)

21-1094

Community Health Workers Assist individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors. Conduct outreach for medical personnel or health organizations to implement programs in the community that promote, maintain, and improve individual and community health. May provide information on available resources, provide social support and informal counseling, advocate for individuals and community health needs, and provide services such as first aid and blood pressure screening. May collect data to help identify community health needs. Excludes “Health Educators” (21-1091).

Illustrative examples: Peer Health Promoter, Lay Health Advocate

Broad Occupation: 21-1090 Miscellaneous Community and Social Service Specialists
Minor Group: 21-1000 Counselors, Social Workers, and Other Community and Social Service Specialists
Major Group: 21-0000 Community and Social Service Occupations

Peer Support Specialist The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not collect data specifically on peer support specialists. Instead, it counts them among community health workers, of which 51,900 were employed in May 2016.

What do CHW do?

What is a CHW?

Core Roles and Competencies from the C3 Project Nov 28, 2018

Community Health Worker "Saw Me as Human"

Magdalena is a patient at Loma Linda University Health's Diabetes Treatment Center. She was depressed and immobile, having difficulty navigating the complex health system—but a community health worker was able to help. For more information please visit: https://news.llu.edu/academics/commun...

CHW Roles

Oregon CHW Association (ORCHWA) Dec 16, 2016

Community Health Workers

Over the last seven years, University of Pennsylvania researchers have refined a "Community Health Worker" program that is so successful that it is now being adopted by hospitals and health care systems across the country. At the 2018 Penn Medicine Innovation Accelerator Pitch Day, Penn Medicine Community Health Worker Program COO Jill Feldstein explains why the Penn system is so different. May 23, 2018

Welcome

Building a Multicultural CHW Community of Practice in California

Bridging disparities Working for equity