Community health workers (CHWs) are frontline public health workers who are trusted and understanding members of the communities they serve. This trusting relationship enables CHWs to be liaisons, links, or intermediaries between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. Community health workers also build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy.

Community health workers are bridges between the community and the health care, government, and social service systems.

Community health workers work in government, nonprofit, and private organizations, including hospitals, government, ambulatory care facilities, and religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, or similar organizations. They also provide individualized support or family services from a central location, from remote locations, or through home visits. They work in rural, metropolitan, and urban areas; on tribal lands; or internationally.

Work Process Schedule PDF

Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Collect and analyze data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May serve as a resource to assist individuals, other healthcare workers, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

Associate of Arts and Sciences degrees in Human Services are available from Lord Fairfax Community College.