Role of Community Health Workers

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Community members serving as frontline health workers are referred to by several names, including

community health workers (CHWs)
community aides
promotoras
lay health workers (Love, Gardner, & Legion, 1997; CDC, 1998).

CHWs are indigenous to the community in which they work, providing them with a unique understanding of the norms, attitudes, values, and strengths of community members (Love et al., 1997).

The Pew Health Professions Commission (1994) asserts that incorporation of CHWs into the health care system will improve the delivery of preventive and primary care to America’s diverse communities.

CHWs take on multiple roles in the healthcare system:

bringing in individuals unfamiliar to the health care system
providing cultural linkages and social support
overcoming distrust
contributing to building the patient-provider communication
providing patient and community education and counseling
monitoring health status and assuring adherence to medical regimines
enhancing adherence to care (Brownstein et al., 2005)