Community Health Workers:
Who Are They And What Do They Do?

Highlights Of A Survey Conducted By The Community Health Works of San Franciso Of Eight Counties In The San Francisco Bay Area, 1996.*

Job opportunities are expanding for these front line health professionals, with the majority of growth being in the public health departments and community based organizations.

  • Community Health Workers (CHWs) have other titles such as health worker, outreach worker, community health outreach worker (CHOW), public health aide, case manager/case worker, and counselor/peer counselor.
  • CHWs work in many areas of health care using various skills. Half of them work in clinics and half of them work in community outreach.
Employers' Top 10 Most Valued
Skills For CHWs:

1. Multi-Cultural Competence
2. Community Outreach
3. Communication and Conflict Resolution
4. Self-Management
5. Bilingual/Bicultural
6. Patient Education and Counseling
7. Interviewing/Intake
8. Reporting and Documentation
9. Appropriate Training
10. Knowledge of Entitlements and Referrals

 

A scientific survey conducted by the Community Health Works of San Franciso (formerly The Community Health Worker Training Program), a joint program of San Francisco State University and City College of San Francisco; Love, M.B., Gardner, K., and Legion, V. Community Health Workers.*

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Who Are They And What Do They Do?

93% of CHWs receive Health Benefits
63% of CHWs belong to Unions
60% of agencies have a Career Ladder for CHWs

 

FN: CHWs: Who are they?

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© SFSU/CCSF Community Health Works of San Franciso, 1997.
For more information contact: CHTDC, Department of Health Education, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco, CA 94132.
Phone: 415/338-3034 Fax: 415/338-7948 Email: chw@sfsu.edu