Promoting the Health of the Community: Community Health Workers Describing Their Roles, Competencies, and Practice

Community health workers (CHWs) are an essential part of the healthcare and public health professions, but there is a gap in the literature regarding their roles, skills, scope of practice, job settings, and national standards. This collection of contributions provides information about CHWs, their roles as change agents, integration 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 and follows the framework of the nationally recognized roles of CHWs developed through the "The Community Health Worker (CHW) Core Consensus (C3) Project". It covers topics such as cultural mediation, care coordination, case management, advocating for individuals and communities, building individual and community capacity, implementing individual and community assessments, participating in evaluation and research, and uniting the workforce.

Format: Hardback
Length: 428 pages
Publication date: 19 February 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Community health workers (CHWs) are crucial members of the healthcare and public health professions, playing a vital role in enhancing primary care capacity. Despite the significant expansion of CHW interventions, training programs, certification, and credentialing by state agencies, there remains a gap in the literature regarding the current roles, skills, scope of practice, job settings, and national standards of CHWs. This collection of contributions aims to address this gap by providing comprehensive information on CHWs, their roles as change agents in their communities, integration into healthcare teams, and support and recognition of the CHW profession.

The book aligns with the definition of a community health worker as defined by the American Public Health Association (APHA), Community Health Worker Section (2013), which states that a community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is trusted by and deeply understands the community they serve. The text follows the framework of nationally recognized roles of CHWs developed through the "The Community Health Worker (CHW) Core Consensus (C3) Project," a national consensus-building project. The chapters in the book explore various topics related to CHWs, including 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; and uniting the workforce to build capacity for a national association of community health workers.

This resource is a valuable tool for CHWs, as well as individuals interested in understanding the scope of practice of CHWs. It provides a comprehensive overview of the CHW profession, highlighting the critical roles and responsibilities of CHWs in improving health outcomes and promoting well-being in communities. By presenting the latest research, best practices, and case studies, the book offers insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by CHWs and provides strategies for effective collaboration and advocacy within healthcare teams.

In conclusion, "Community Health Workers: Roles, Skills, and Scope of Practice" is a essential publication for anyone seeking to understand the significance of CHWs in healthcare and public health. It provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the CHW profession, highlighting the critical roles and contributions of CHWs in improving health outcomes and promoting community well-being. The book is a valuable resource for CHWs, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and researchers interested in advancing the field of community health work.

Weight: 828g
Dimension: 163 x 241 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030563745
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021