Description
Book SynopsisCommunity health workers (CHWs) are an increasingly important member of the healthcare and public health professions who help build primary care capacity. Yet, in spite of the exponential growth of CHW interventions, CHW training programs, and CHW certification and credentialing by state agencies, a gap persists in the literature regarding current CHW roles and skills, scope of practice, CHW job settings, and national standards. This collection of contributions addresses this gap by providing information, in a single volume, about CHWs, the roles CHWs play as change agents in their communities, integration of CHWs into healthcare teams, and support and recognition of the CHW profession.
The book supports the CHW definition as defined by the American Public Health Association (APHA), Community Health Worker Section (2013), which states, “A community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served.” The scope of the text follows the framework of the nationally recognized roles of CHWs that came out of a national consensus-building project called “The Community Health Worker (CHW) Core Consensus (C3) Project”. Topics explored among the chapters include:
- Cultural Mediation Among Individuals, Communities, and Health and Social Service Systems
- Care Coordination, Case Management, and System Navigation
- Advocating for Individuals and Communities
- Building Individual and Community Capacity
- Implementing Individual and Community Assessments
- Participating in Evaluation and Research
- Uniting the Workforce: Building Capacity for a National Association of Community Health Workers
Promoting the Health of the Community is a must-have resource for CHWs, those interested in CHW scope of practice and/or certification/credentialing, anyone interested in becoming a CHW, policy-makers, CHW payer systems, CHW supervisors, CHW employers, CHW instructors/trainers, CHW advocates/supporters, and communities served by CHWs.
Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction (Authors: Julie St. John, Wandy Hernandez, Susan Mayfield-Johnson, Lee Rosenthal, Carl Rush) a. Introduction to CHW book and purpose (Authors: Julie St. John, Wandy Hernandez, Susan Mayfield-Johnson) b. Results from national CHW survey (Authors: Julie St. John, Susan Mayfield-Johnson, Danielle Fastring) c. C3 scope and purpose (Authors: Lee Rosenthal, Carl Rush, Julie St. John) d. Description of book contents and authorship (Authors: Julie St. John, Wandy Hernandez, Susan Mayfield-Johnson)
Abstract: This introductory chapter accomplishes three tasks. First, the chapter describes the book purpose and content. This includes why the editors compiled the book, how the design and context developed, a description of the book layout and format, and the rationale for having CHW teams (comprised of CHWs, instructors/trainers, stakeholders/allies, supervisors, employers, and clients/communities) write the chapters on CHW roles and scope of work.
Second, the book summarizes the scope and purpose of The Community Health Worker (CHW) Core Consensus (C3) Project, along with a description of the outcomes of the C3 project and the national scope and impact of the C3 project on the CHW workforce. Third, the book describes the national CHW survey conducted to inform the development of the book, as well as summarize the data and results from the survey.
Chapter 2: Cultural Mediation among Individuals, Communities, and Health and Social Service Systems
Abstract: In this chapter, a CHW shares his/her personal testimony and perspective of how he/she provided cultural mediation for his/her clients, community, and local healthcare and social service entities. The CHW describes specific examples of successful activities involving cultural mediation, the CHW’s experience of challenges he/she faced in providing cultural mediation, and lessons learned/best practices for providing cultural mediation for the population served. Additionally, other members of the CHW team share their personal experiences related to the CHW’s role in conducting cultural mediation and serving as change agents in their respective communities.
Chapter 3: Culturally Appropriate Health Education and Information
Abstract: In this chapter, a CHW shares his/her personal testimony and perspective of how he/she provided culturally appropriate health education and information for his/her clients. The CHW describes specific examples of successful activities involving culturally appropriate health education and information, the CHW’s experience of challenges he/she faced in providing culturally appropriate health education and information, and lessons learned/best practices for providing culturally appropriate health education and information for the population served. Additionally, other members of the CHW team share their personal experiences related to the CHW’s role in providing culturally appropriate health education and information and serving as change agents in their respective communities.
Chapter 4: Care Coordination, Case Management, and System Navigation
Abstract: In this chapter, a CHW shares his/her personal testimony and perspective of how he/she provided care coordination, case management, and system navigation for his/her clients. The CHW describes specific examples of successful activities involving care coordination, case management, and system navigation, the CHW’s experience of challenges he/she faced in providing care coordination, case management, and system navigation, and lessons learned/best practices for providing care coordination, case management, and system navigation. Additionally, other members of the CHW team share their personal experiences related to the CHW’s role in providing care coordination, case management, and system navigation and serving as change agents in their respective communities.
Chapter 5: Coaching and Social Support
Abstract: In this chapter, a CHW shares his/her personal testimony and perspective of how he/she provided coaching and social support for his/her clients. The CHW describes specific examples of successful activities involving coaching and social support, the CHW’s experience of challenges he/she faced in providing coaching and social support, and lessons learned/best practices for providing coaching and social support. Additionally, other members of the CHW team share their personal experiences related to the CHW’s role in coaching and social support and serving as change agents in their respective communities.
Chapter 6: Developing Individual and Community Advocacy
Abstract: In this chapter, a CHW shares his/her personal testimony and perspective of how he/she helped develop individual and community capacity. The CHW describes specific examples of successful activities involving individual and community advocacy, the CHW’s experience of challenges he/she faced in advocating for his/her clients and community, and lessons learned/best practices for individual and community advocacy. Additionally, other members of the CHW team share their personal experiences related to the CHW’s role in individual and community advocacy and serving as change agents in their respective communities.
Chapter 7: Building Individual and Community Capacity
Abstract: In this chapter, a CHW shares his/her personal testimony and perspective of how he/she built individual and community capacity for his/her clients. The CHW describes specific examples of successful activities involving the development of individual and community capacity, the CHW’s experience of challenges he/she faced in building capacity, and lessons learned/best practices for building individual and community capacity. Additionally, other members of the CHW team share their personal experiences related to the CHW’s role in building individual and community capacity and serving as change agents in their respective communities.
Chapter 8: Provision of Direct Services
Abstract: In this chapter, a CHW shares his/her personal testimony and perspective of providing direct services for his/her clients. The CHW describes specific examples of providing direct services, the CHW’s experience of challenges he/she faced in providing direct services, and lessons learned/best practices from providing direct services. Additionally, other members of the CHW team share their personal experiences related to the CHW’s role in providing direct services and serving as change agents in their respective communities.
Chapter 9: Individual and Community Assessments
Abstract: In this chapter, a CHW shares his/her personal testimony and perspective of conducting individual and community assessments. The CHW describe specific examples of successful activities involving individual and community assessments, the CHW’s experience of challenges he/she faced in conducting individual and community assessments, and lessons learned/best practices from conducting individual and community assessments. Additionally, other members of the CHW team will share their personal experiences related to the CHW’s role in conducting individual and community assessments and serving as change agents in their respective communities.
Chapter 10: Outreach
Abstract: In this chapter, a CHW shares his/her personal testimony and perspective of how he/she conducted outreach. The CHW describes specific examples of successful activities involving outreach, the CHW’s experience of challenges he/she faced in conducting outreach, and lessons learned/best practices for outreach. Additionally, other members of the CHW team share their personal experiences related to the CHW’s outreach role and serving as change agents in their respective communities.
Chapter 11: Participation in Evaluation and Research
Abstract: In this chapter, a CHW shares his/her personal testimony and perspective of how he/she participated in evaluation and research in his/her community. The CHW describes specific examples of successful activities involving evaluation and research, the CHW’s experience of challenges he/she faced in participating in evaluation and research, and lessons learned/best practices for participating in evaluation and research. Additionally, other members of the CHW team share their personal experiences related to the CHW’s role in evaluation and research and serving as change agents in their respective communities.
Chapter 12: Conclusion and Next Steps
Abstract: The concluding chapter discusses the movement towards a national CHW association, network, or council; highlight CHW funding models; and propose recommendations for promoting the CHW workforce and scope or work.
