Community Health Worker Advocacy
HealthConnect One has trained parents, community health workers and direct service providers for over 20 years to promote breastfeeding, provide pregnancy and birthing support, and prevent infant mortality -- with significant documented results. Because we know the effectiveness of the Community Health Worker (CHW) model, HealthConnect One works with CHWs, Promotores de Salud* and other stakeholders across the country to strengthen, support, expand, and promote this role.
* Translated as “promoters of health,” the terms promotores and promotoras result from social change movements in Latin America, and are used in Mexico, Latin America and Latino communities in the United States.
National Advocacy & Leadership
American Public Health Association - CHW Section
- In October 2012, HC One Program Director Wandy Hernandez was installed by her peers as Chair of the American Public Health Association's CHW Section.
National Steering Committee for Promotores de Salud
- The U.S. DHHS Office of Minority Health selected Chicago CHW Local Network Coordinator Laura Bahena to serve on the National Steering Committee for Promotores de Salud. This Steering Committee works in collaboration with the Federal Workgroup for the Promotores initiative, to provide leadership and guidance in the development and implementation of a newly established National Initiative for Promotores de Salud focused on Latino/Hispanic populations. Click here for a Snapshot of Promotores de Salud Initiative Activities/Accomplishments in their first year.
National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities
- The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services launched the National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities in 2011, and the accompanying reports include a focus on Community Health Workers. Please click here for more information.
National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council
- December 2010 - This statement by HC One Executive Director Rachel Abramson supports community health worker interventions to eliminate health disparities.
What is a CHW?
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.
- Definition developed by the American Association of Community Health Workers and adopted by the APHA
