CHWs are the frontline health workers assisting those who need it most. With effective training, your team can help bring health to underserved communities.
Individuals in underserved populations often struggle to access the medical care needed to live a long, healthy life. Issues like cultural stigma, language barriers, and bureaucracy make health care difficult or impossible to access for many marginalized communities.
Especially in remote locations or those with little to no access to healthcare, such as impoverished towns and international borders, Community Health Workers provide much-needed relief to over-burdened healthcare systems, assist in the care, and offer personal support to patients and their families as community members deal with unique health challenges.
In the US, CHWs often work with immigrant communities, women at risk of (or experiencing) abuse, families at or below the poverty line, and aging adults who require attention but not necessarily 24/7 medical assistance.
Community Health Workers Make Health Care And Disease Prevention Accessible To Communities
While CHW regulations vary across states, most programs require basic career skills and core competencies to work as a Community Health Worker, promotor de salud, or health advocate with registered organizations.
Besides hands-on experience in the field, professional CHW training is advised and should cover core competencies like:
- Advocating for patients’ needs
- Helping patients and families get the care they need
- Bridging the gap between patients and their caretakers
- Cultural nuances such as navigating language barriers and cultural stigma
- Raising awareness about health and disease prevention
- Identifying the needs of patients and populations
- Assessing needs and opportunities in underserved communities
- Engaging with individuals and organizations alike
- Planning and implementing community events
Does your team feel prepared to take on these responsibilities?
Update Your Team’s Core Skills Training With CHWTraining’s Core CHW Competencies Course
A successful CHW program starts by ensuring your staff has a solid foundation to provide the much-needed care to patients and their loved ones. And the basic legal requirements to meet your state’s certification criteria.
Related: Curious about your state requirements? Core Competencies To Start Your CHW Program
At CHWTraining, we’re excited to announce the launch of a limited enrollment program: CHW Core Competencies, now with a Certificate of Completion.
The newly updated CHW Core Competencies course will help you shape your career, agency, and community. It covers all the basics you’ll need to promote support community members no matter where you live.
Continue your career path by following with CHW Core Competencies II. Building an effective foundation will expand your capabilities to improve health outcomes and connect clients to care.
Don’t miss out. Register now and get access to:
- CHW Core Competencies – Foundations Curriculum (40 hours online instruction)
- Job Growth Toolkit
- Goal-setting worksheet
- CHW Requirements by State
- Professional templates (including a cover letter and resume)
- Core Competencies Toolkit
- Scope of Practice Template
- Bonus case studies
- Resources