Community Health Worker Training Resources - Oklahoma.gov

Community Health Workers (CHWs) help to connect community members to available services and resources. They provide benefits to individuals, communities, providers, and payers. Since CHWs are often members of the communities they serve, and rural communities typically have strong community connections, CHWs have an opportunity to:

• Develop trusting, one-on-one relationships with patients
• Act as a liaison between the healthcare system, patients, and families/caregivers
• Gain support from other organizations serving the community
• Strengthen care coordination by connecting patients with available healthcare and social support services
• Extend the reach of healthcare providers and services, which is particularly helpful in areas with shortages of providers
• Deliver services that are appropriate based on the patient's language and culture
• Give back to their communities

CHWs are widely known to improve the health of their communities by linking their neighbors to health care and social services, educating their peers about disease and injury prevention, working to make health services more accessible, and by mobilizing their communities to create positive change.